Meaning of positive in English
Pronunciation
/ˈpɑzədɪv/US accent
UK accent
to browse different examples of pronunciation.Classifying Adjective
positiveDefinitions
1. involving advantage or goodExamples
- « a plus (or positive) factor »
Synonyms
- 2. formally laid down or imposed
Examples
- « positive laws »
Synonyms
- 3. impossible to deny or disprove
Examples
- « incontrovertible proof of the defendant's innocence »
- « proof positive »
- « an irrefutable argument »
Synonyms
- 4. greater than zero
Examples
- « positive numbers »
Synonyms
- 5. marked by excessive confidence
Examples
- « an arrogant and cocksure materialist »
- « so overconfident and impudent as to speak to the queen »
- « the less he knows the more positive he gets »
Synonyms
- 6. granting what has been desired or requested
Examples
- « a favorable reply »
- « a positive answer »
Synonyms
Noun
positiveDefinitions
1. a film showing a photographic image whose tones correspond to those of the original subjectQualitative Adjective
positiveEtymology
late Middle English: from Old French positif, -ive or Latin positivus, from posit-‘placed’, from the verb ponere. The original sense referred to laws as being formally ‘laid down’, which gave rise to the sense ‘explicitly laid down and admitting no question’, hence ‘certain’Definitions
1. characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.Examples
- « a positive attitude »
- « the reviews were all positive »
- « a positive benefit »
- « a positive demand »
Synonyms
Antonyms
- 2. having a positive electric charge
Examples
- « protons are positive »
Antonyms
- 3. indicating existence or presence of a suspected condition or pathogen
Examples
- « a positive pregnancy test »
Antonyms
- 4. of or relating to positivism
Examples
- « positivist thinkers »
- « positivist doctrine »
- « positive philosophy »