Words / C1

k-uh-m-POHZH-uh/kəmˈpəʊʒə/

Composure is calm control of your feelings, especially under pressure: keep your composure, lose your composure. Calm is everyday; self-control is a close cousin; poise adds grace. Composed is the adjective. In speech, stay calm or keep it together is enough. Composure is what you keep; it is not the same as not caring (that can be callousness).

Meaning

Calm control of your feelings, especially in a difficult situation.

Examples

• “She kept her composure during the interview.”
• “She kept her composure when the fire alarm cut the viva in half.”
• “He lost his composure only when the results were read aloud.”

Good to know

keep / lose your composure. Calm self-control. Everyday: stay calm. Close: poise / self-control. Adjective: composed.

Near in meaning

poise

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