pose

16 synonyms for pose, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To hold a particular position of the body, often for a photo or painting.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

model present raise create sit beat

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

constitute

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

flummox amaze bewilder dumbfound baffle affectedness airs affectation mannerism

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To hold a particular position of the body, often for a photo or painting.

“The twins posed on the beach while their father took photos.”

model present raise constitute create sit flummox amaze bewilder dumbfound baffle beat

2. noun

A particular position of the body, or an affected, showy manner.

“The yoga teacher showed us a simple pose for stretching the back.”

affectedness airs affectation mannerism

How to use pose

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

pose a threat pose a question pose as pose for a photo

Etymology

From Old French poser, "to place or put," ultimately from Latin pausare ("to pause, rest").

Full origin of pose →

Frequently asked questions

What does “pose” mean?

The word “pose” means to hold a particular position of the body, often for a photo or painting. In plain terms, to hold a body position for effect, to present a problem or question, or to falsely pretend to be someone.

How do you pronounce “pose”?

“Pose” is pronounced pohz (/poʊz/ in IPA).

How do you use “pose” in a sentence?

Here is “pose” used in a sentence: “The models posed for the camera on the rooftop.”

What part of speech is “pose”?

Depending on how it is used, “pose” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “pose” come from?

The word “pose” comes from Latin. From Old French poser, "to place or put," ultimately from Latin pausare ("to pause, rest").

Is “pose” a common word?

“Pose” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “pose” have?

“Pose” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to hold a particular position of the body, often for a photo or painting.

What is the difference between 'pose a question' and 'ask a question'?

Both mean to put a question forward, but to pose a question sounds more formal and often suggests a weighty, thought-provoking, or challenging one. "Ask" is the plainer, everyday choice for ordinary questions.

When do you use pose to mean 'present a problem'?

Pose is used this way when something creates or raises a difficulty, risk, or question, as in "the storm poses a threat" or "this poses a problem." Here it does not involve the body at all; it means to give rise to something that must be dealt with.

What are common collocations with pose?

In the body sense, you pose for a photo, painting, or portrait. In the abstract sense, something can pose a threat, pose a risk, pose a problem, pose a challenge, or pose a question.

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present model create beat sit raise constitute amaze dumbfound affectation bewilder baffle

Nearby words

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