/ˈpɒzətɪv/
Translation
Hopeful and cheerful, expecting good things to happen; or completely sure about something.
Word origin
From Latin positivus, meaning settled or laid down, from ponere, to place.
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- positivus
- English cognates
- pose, position
Examples
.
Here "positive" means hopeful and cheerful.
.
A "positive" answer is a good one or a yes.
.
Here "positive" means completely sure.
Used in
Grammar articles
(12)Both, either and neither in English: the two-of-something words, agreement traps, and Me neither
Ellipsis and substitution in English: I think so, neither do I, and the words you are allowed to leave out
Emphasis in English: I do like it, my own, the very, and how to push back
For, since, already, yet and still in English: which word, and where it goes in the sentence
Gradable and ungradable adjectives: why very furious sounds wrong, and which intensifier goes where
English grammar test: 30 questions with answers (A2-B2)
Hedging and vague language in English: sort of, a bit, -ish, stuff and or so
Quantifiers in English: some, any, much, many and more
Question tags in English: the mirror rule, aren't I, and tags after let's and imperatives
So, such, too and enough in English: words of degree and result
Used to, would and be used to: talking about past habits and states in English
Wish and if only in English: wish + past, wish + past perfect, wish + would, and why I wish I would is wrong
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Go to my review queueThis word is part of lesson 34.