positive
4 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of POSITIVE
1
[more positive; most positive]
:
good or useful
—
opposite negative
-
Did you have a positive [=pleasant] experience working with that company?
-
The book had a positive influence on me.
-
He has been a positive role model for his brother.
-
Nothing positive came out of that experience.
-
What are some of the positive things about your job?
-
The low unemployment rate is a positive sign for the economy.
-
The company took positive steps to create a safer workplace.
2
[more positive; most positive]
:
thinking about the good qualities of someone or something
:
thinking that a good result will happen
:
hopeful or optimistic
—
opposite negative
-
You've got to have a positive attitude/outlook to do well in life.
-
You should try to be more positive about the whole situation.
-
On the positive side, you will be making more money.
-
To end on a positive note, we are seeing an increase in sales this month.
3
not used before a noun
:
completely certain or sure that something is correct or true
-
We were positive that we would win the game.
-
“That is the street we need to take.” “Are you sure?” “(I'm) Positive.”
-
I'm not (absolutely) positive, but I think they won the World Series in 1954.
4
[more positive; most positive]
:
showing or expressing support, approval, or agreement
—
opposite negative
-
Most of the response from the public has been positive [=favorable] so far.
-
The reviews were mostly positive.
-
positive feedback
-
The new Web site has received a positive response from its visitors.
5
:
unable to be doubted
:
certainly true
-
There is no positive [=definite, conclusive] proof that life exists on other planets.
-
The police have not yet made a positive identification of the victim.
-
The fact that the DNA samples did not match is proof positive that he is not the father.
6
:
showing the presence of a particular germ, condition, or substance
—
opposite negative
-
He tested positive for steroids. [=the test showed that he had used steroids]
-
The test results were positive.
-
HIV positive patients
9
always used before a noun,
informal
:
absolute or complete
— used to make a statement more forceful
-
The way poor people are treated in this country is a positive disgrace.
2
positive
/ˈpɑːzətɪv/
noun
plural
positives
2
positive
/ˈpɑːzətɪv/
noun
plural
positives
Britannica Dictionary definition of POSITIVE
[count]
1
:
something that is good or useful
—
opposite negative
-
The positives of living in the city include access to public transportation and many interesting restaurants.
-
The positives of the job outweigh the negatives. [=there are more good things about the job than bad things]
2
:
the result from a test that shows that a particular germ, condition, or substance is present
—
opposite negative
-
The test showed a positive.
-
The test produced too many false positives [=results that showed something was present when it really was not] to be reliable.
3
:
a photograph that shows light and dark areas or colors as they look in real life
—
compare negative
