Definitions
01to present a problem
B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic
v. to create or present a problem, danger, or question that people must deal with.
v. to constitute or present a challenge, threat, or inquiry. Transitive; typically takes abstract nouns like 'threat', 'risk', or 'challenge' as objects.
“The rising water levels pose a serious threat to the small coastal village.”
“The sudden collapse of the regional bank poses a significant risk to the stability of the national economy.”
Usage
Commonly used in formal or academic writing with objects like 'threat', 'risk', 'challenge', or 'question'.
Synonyms
02to sit for a photo
B1 · Intermediate
v. to hold a particular position so that someone can take your photo or paint you.
v. to assume and maintain a specific physical posture for artistic or photographic purposes.
日本語:ポーズ※
“The family gathered in the garden to pose for their holiday photograph.”
“The athlete was asked to pose for the magazine cover in a way that highlighted his physical strength.”
03to pretend to be someone
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to pretend to be someone else in order to trick people.
v. to falsely represent oneself as another person or professional to achieve a specific goal. Intransitive; usually followed by the preposition 'as'.
“The thief managed to enter the building by posing as a repairman.”
“The undercover investigator spent months posing as a high-level executive to gather evidence of the fraud.”
Synonyms
04a physical position
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a particular way of standing or sitting, usually for a picture.
n. a particular posture of the body, especially one assumed for artistic effect or social display.
“The yoga instructor showed us a difficult pose that helps with balance.”
“The statue depicts the emperor in a majestic pose, with one arm raised as if addressing a vast crowd.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “pose” in context.
Verb
01. pose difficulty
“The new regulations may pose difficulty for small businesses trying to comply.”
verb + noun
02. pose dilemma
“The conflicting job offers pose a dilemma for the young graduate.”
verb + noun
Real-World Examples
“The EU is under pressure for a broader ban on "forever chemicals", with experts warning they pose a growing risk to health and the environment.” “Strength to you all.”
Lionel Messi poses with his brother Rodrigo, sister María Sol, father Jorge, mother Celia, nephew Tomás and brother Matías in Rosario, Argentina, in 2003.” “At left, Tatiana, Anastasia and Olga Romanov pose for a photo with their father, Nicholas II, and two members of their retinue.” Etymology
From Middle English pose, from Old English ġeposu pl (“cold in the head; catarrh”, literally “(the) sneezes; (the) snorts”), from Old English pos, ġepos (“sneeze, snort”), from Proto-West Germanic pos, from Proto-Germanic pusą (“sneeze, snort”), from Proto-Germanic pusōną, pusjaną (“to snort, blow”), from pus- (“to blow, breathe hard”), from Proto-Indo-European bew- (“to blow, swell”). Compare Low German pusten (“to blow, puff”), German dialectal pfausen (“to sneeze, snort”), Norwegian dialectal pysa (“to blow”).
From Middle English posen, from Old French poser (“to put, place, stell, settle, lodge”), from Vulgar Latin pausāre (“to blin, cease, pause”), from Latin pausa (“pause”), from Ancient Greek παῦσις (paûsis); influenced by Latin pōnere. Doublet of pause.
From Middle English posen, a combination of aphetic forms of Middle English aposen and opposen. More at appose, oppose.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/pose
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0