English Reference
Noun

composure

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US /kəmˈpoʊʒɝ/ UK /kəmpˈəʊʒɐ/ com·po·sure

n.the state of being calm and in control of your feelings, even in a difficult situation. It means you are not letting stress or anger show on your face or in your actions.

n.the state of being calm and in control of one's emotions. Often refers to maintaining a steady outward appearance during stressful or provocative circumstances.


SIMPLE

She kept her composure during the difficult interview.

CONTEXTUAL

Despite the aggressive questioning from the reporters, the politician never lost his composure.

COMPLEX

Maintaining one's composure in the face of public criticism is often cited as the hallmark of a seasoned leader, as it prevents minor setbacks from escalating into full-blown crises.

Usage

Commonly used with the verbs 'keep', 'maintain', 'lose', or 'regain'.

Some grownups are in the room at last and, for Xabi Alonso, the hope is that bringing in more experience will help a squad still packed with youngsters show more composure when adversity strikes.

The Guardian· 24 Aug 2026

Initially, Jamie struggles to retain composure in the face of Diane’s gale-force disdain, as she picks and pecks at his every word.

The Guardian· 13 Aug 2026

From compose + -ure.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated