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positive - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'positive' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Positive [ a.]
- Having a real position, existence, or energy; existing in fact; real; actual; -- opposed to negative.
- Derived from an object by itself; not dependent on changing circumstances or relations; absolute; -- opposed to relative; as, the idea of beauty is not positive, but depends on the different tastes individuals.
- Definitely laid down; explicitly stated; clearly expressed; -- opposed to implied; as, a positive declaration or promise.
- Hence: Not admitting of any doubt, condition, qualification, or discretion; not dependent on circumstances or probabilities; not speculative; compelling assent or obedience; peremptory; indisputable; decisive; as, positive instructions; positive truth; positive proof.
- Prescribed by express enactment or institution; settled by arbitrary appointment; said of laws.
- Fully assured; confident; certain; sometimes, overconfident; dogmatic; overbearing; -- said of persons.
- Having the power of direct action or influence; as, a positive voice in legislation.
- Corresponding with the original in respect to the position of lights and shades, instead of having the lights and shades reversed; as, a positive picture.
- Electro-positive.
- Hence, basic; metallic; not acid; -- opposed to negative, and said of metals, bases, and basic radicals.
2 . Positive [ n.]
- That which is capable of being affirmed; reality.
- That which settles by absolute appointment.
- The positive degree or form.
- A picture in which the lights and shades correspond in position with those of the original, instead of being reversed, as in a negative.
- The positive plate of a voltaic or electrolytic cell.

Meaning of 'positive' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . positive [ a]
Meaning (1):
- characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.
Example in sentence:
  • a positive attitude;
  • a positive benefit;
  • a positive demand;
  • the reviews were all positive
Meaning (2):
- indicating existence or presence of a suspected condition or pathogen
Example in sentence:
  • a positive pregnancy test
Meaning (3):
- reckoned, situated or tending in the direction which naturally or arbitrarily is taken to indicate increase or progress or onward motion
Example in sentence:
  • positive increase in graduating students
Meaning (4):
- of or relating to positivism
Example in sentence:
  • positive philosophy;
  • positivist doctrine;
  • positivist thinkers
5 . positive [ s]
Meaning (5):
- involving advantage or good
Example in sentence:
  • a plus (or positive) factor
Meaning (6):
- marked by excessive confidence
Example in sentence:
  • an arrogant and cocksure materialist;
  • so overconfident and impudent as to speak to the queen;
  • the less he knows the more positive he gets
Meaning (7):
- impossible to deny or disprove
Example in sentence:
  • an irrefutable argument;
  • incontrovertible proof of the defendant's innocence;
  • proof positive
Meaning (8):
- persuaded of; very sure
Example in sentence:
  • I am positive he is lying;
  • was confident he would win;
  • were convinced that it would be to their advantage to join
Meaning (9):
- formally laid down or imposed
Example in sentence:
  • positive laws
Meaning (10):
- greater than zero
Example in sentence:
  • positive numbers
Meaning (11):
- having a positive charge
Example in sentence:
  • protons are positive

Nearby Words:

pose posed poser posied posies posing posingly posit posited positing

See 'positive' also in:

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