French word

ressaisir

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁəseziʁ/

Meaning

  • verbpull oneself together

Example

Elle s'est ressaisie avant de répondre.

She pulled herself together before responding.

Illustration for ressaisir (pull oneself together)

More examples

Après le faux pas, il a dû se ressaisir pour continuer la présentation.

After the misstep, he had to pull himself together to continue the presentation.

Core concept

A person pulling scattered thoughts together and returning to steady judgment.

Common phrases

  • se ressaisir

    pull oneself together

  • se ressaisir rapidement

    quickly pull oneself together

Similar words

se calmer: Calm down when excitement or tension fades.
se reprendre: Regain composure and steady one's attitude.
reprendre ses esprits: Recover one's senses and focus after being shaken or shocked.
se contrôler: Keep emotions or impulses under control and act calmly.

Definition in French

Retrouver rapidement le calme et la clarté d'esprit après une émotion ou un moment d'égarement.

Word origin

The form ressaisir joins re- with saisir, and its reflexive use in se ressaisir conveys the figurative act of grasping oneself again.

Usage tips

  • The imperative Ressaisis-toi! sounds forceful and is mainly suited to close relationships or urgent situations.

Other meanings

  • come to one's sensesverb

Opposites

  • s'affolerpanicverb
  • s'énerverget upsetverb

Related words

  • ressaisissementregaining one's composurenoun
  • ressaisicomposedadjective

Word lists with this word