Position — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /pə-ˈzi-shən/ po·si·tion

Meaning & Definition of Position

Position (noun)

  1. an act of placing or arranging
  2. the laying down of a proposition or thesis
  3. an arranging in order

Position (verb)

  1. to put in a certain position

Position (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an assignment at which one regularly works for pay

    "he holds the position of manager at the store"

    similar: appointment, berth, billet, capacity, connection, function, job, place, post, situation
    related: business, employ, employment, occupation, profession, work, office, spot, calling, pursuit, trade, vocation, line, racket, engagement, gig, livelihood, living, career, lifework, practice, duty, mission, posting, service, task
    near: avocation, joblessness, unemployment

  2. the action for which a person or thing is specially fitted or used or for which a thing exists

    "man's position in the universe"

    similar: business, capacity, function, job, part, place, purpose, role, task, work
    related: affair, concern, hand, involvement, participation, niche, office, post, situation, calling, occupation, pursuit, vocation, activity, assignment, charge, commission, duty, employ, mission, responsibility, service, use

  3. the area or space occupied by or intended for something

    "I knew that someone had been in the room because the chair was out of its usual position"

    similar: emplacement, locale, locality, location, locus, place, point, site, spot, venue, where
    related: scene, precinct, region, section, sector, here, there

  4. the place where someone is assigned to stand or remain

    "the soldiers were commanded to hold their position on the hill at all costs"

    similar: post, quarter, station
    related: assignment, brief, business, charge, detail, job, operation

  5. the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement

    "holds the lead position in the standings"

    similar: degree, echelon, footing, level, place, rank, ranking, reach(es), rung, situation, standing, station, status, stratum
    related: condition, estate, order, walk, capacity, function, rating

Position (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to arrange something in a certain spot or position

    "positioned the chairs around the room"

    similar: depose, deposit, dispose, emplace, fix, lay, place, put, set, set up, situate, stick
    related: move, rearrange, reorder, shift, orient, establish, locate, plant, settle, clap, flop, plank, plop, plump, plunk, plunk down, slap, ensconce, niche, assemble, collect, carry, berth, park, affix, anchor, lock, lodge, wedge, array, lay out, line up, queue, rank, set down
    near: relocate, remove, take, banish, dislodge, displace, replace, supersede, supplant

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Position

The most common words with a similar meaning to Position:

appointment, berth, billet, capacity, connection, function, job, place, post, situation, business, part, purpose, role, task, work, emplacement, locale, locality, location, locus, point, site, spot, venue, where, quarter, station, degree, echelon, footing, level, rank, ranking, reach(es), rung, standing, status, stratum, depose

Related Words for Position

employ, employment, occupation, profession, office, calling, pursuit, trade, vocation, line, racket, engagement, gig, livelihood, living, career, lifework, practice, duty, mission, posting, service, affair, concern, hand, involvement, participation, niche, activity, assignment

Near Antonyms of Position

avocation, joblessness, unemployment, relocate, remove, take, banish, dislodge, displace, replace, supersede, supplant

Word Forms of Position

Inflections: positioned, positioning

Origin & Etymology of Position

Middle English posycion, from Anglo-French posicioun, from Latin position-, positio, from ponere to lay down, put, place, from Old Latin *posinere, from po- away (akin to Old Church Slavic po-, perfective prefix, Greek apo away) + Latin sinere to leave of

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Position

Words & Phrases Containing Position

position effect, position paper, position of strength, position of trust, fetal position, in a compromising position, lotus position, missionary position

Frequently Asked Questions about Position

What does "Position" mean?

"Position" means an act of placing or arranging. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: an act of placing or arranging. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Position"?

Other words for "Position" include appointment, berth, billet, capacity, connection, function, job and place. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Position" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Position"?

There are 131 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Position". Common alternatives include appointment, berth, billet, capacity, connection, function, job, place, post and situation.

How do you use "Position" in a sentence?

Examples of "Position" in a sentence: "he holds the position of manager at the store"; "man's position in the universe"; "I knew that someone had been in the room because the chair was out of its usual position".

Is "Position" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Position" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Position" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Position" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Position"?

"Position" is pronounced /pə-ˈzi-shən/ and divided into syllables as po·si·tion.

What is the origin of the word "Position"?

"Position" comes from Middle English posycion, from Anglo-French posicioun, from Latin position-, positio, from ponere to lay down, put, place, from Old Latin *posinere, from po- away (akin to Old Church Slavic po-, perfective prefix, Greek apo away) + Latin sinere to leave of. First known use: 14th century.