Positive — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈpä-zə-tiv/ pos·i·tive

Meaning & Definition of Positive

Positive (adjective)

  1. formally laid down or imposed, prescribed
  2. expressed clearly or peremptorily
  3. fully assured, confident

Positive (noun)

  1. something positive
  2. the positive degree of comparison in a language
  3. a positive form of an adjective or adverb

Positive (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. expressing approval

    "hoped for a positive reaction from the audience"

    similar: admiring, applauding, appreciative, approbatory, approving, commendatory, complimentary, favorable, friendly, good
    related: accepting, warm, encomiastic, eulogistic, flattering, hagiographic, laudative, laudatory, panegyrical, praiseful, respectful, supportive, sympathetic, adoring, adulatory, idolizing, worshipful, worshipping, advisory, recommendatory
    opposite: adverse, depreciative, depreciatory, derogatory, disapproving, inappreciative, negative, unappreciative, uncomplimentary, unfavorable, unflattering, unfriendly
    near: captious, carping, caviling, censuring, critical, faultfinding, hypercritical, overcritical, belittling, contemptuous, disdainful, disparaging, scornful, slighting

  2. having or showing a mind free from doubt

    "I'm positive that this is the right direction"

    similar: assured, certain, clear, cocksure, confident, doubtless, implicit, sanguine, sure
    related: self-assured, self-conceited, self-confident, decisive, resolute, unfaltering, unhesitating, unquestioning, unwavering
    opposite: doubtful, dubious, uncertain, unsure
    near: hesitant, indecisive, vacillating, wavering, diffident, unassuming

  3. not capable of being challenged or proved wrong

    "seeks positive proof that UFO's exist"

    similar: accomplished, certain, inarguable, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, irrefragable, irrefutable, sure, unanswerable, unarguable, unchallengeable, undeniable, unquestionable
    related: unambiguous, unequivocal, absolute, clear, conclusive, decisive, definite, hands-down, uncontested, uncontradicted, undisputed, unquestioned
    opposite: answerable, arguable, contradictable, controvertible, debatable, disputable, doubtable, moot, negotiable, problematic, questionable, refutable
    near: controversial, debated, disputed, doubtful, dubious, iffy, inconclusive, indecisive, uncertain, ambiguous, equivocal, academic, hypothetical, speculative, theoretical

Positive (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in yes, yea

    similar: yea, yes, pro, acceptance, approval, grace
    opposite: nay, negative, no, non placet, con, blackball, veto

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Positive

The most common words with a similar meaning to Positive:

admiring, applauding, appreciative, approbatory, approving, commendatory, complimentary, favorable, friendly, good, assured, certain, clear, cocksure, confident, doubtless, implicit, sanguine, sure, accomplished, inarguable, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, irrefragable, irrefutable, unanswerable, unarguable, unchallengeable, undeniable, unquestionable, yea, yes, pro, acceptance, approval, grace

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Positive

Words with the opposite meaning of Positive:

adverse, depreciative, depreciatory, derogatory, disapproving, inappreciative, negative, unappreciative, uncomplimentary, unfavorable, unflattering, unfriendly, doubtful, dubious, uncertain, unsure, answerable, arguable, contradictable, controvertible, debatable, disputable, doubtable, moot, negotiable, problematic, questionable, refutable, nay, no

Related Words for Positive

accepting, warm, encomiastic, eulogistic, flattering, hagiographic, laudative, laudatory, panegyrical, praiseful, respectful, supportive, sympathetic, adoring, adulatory, idolizing, worshipful, worshipping, advisory, recommendatory, self-assured, self-conceited, self-confident, decisive, resolute, unfaltering, unhesitating, unquestioning, unwavering, unambiguous

Near Antonyms of Positive

captious, carping, caviling, censuring, critical, faultfinding, hypercritical, overcritical, belittling, contemptuous, disdainful, disparaging, scornful, slighting, hesitant, indecisive, vacillating, wavering, diffident, unassuming, controversial, debated, disputed, iffy, inconclusive, ambiguous, equivocal, academic, hypothetical, speculative

Word Forms of Positive

Derived words: positively (adverb), positiveness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Positive

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin positivus, from positus, past participle of ponere

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Positive

Words & Phrases Containing Positive

positive definite, positive feedback, positive law, positive discrimination, bilevel positive airway pressure, continuous positive airway pressure, false positive, gram-positive

Frequently Asked Questions about Positive

What does "Positive" mean?

"Positive" means formally laid down or imposed, prescribed. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: formally laid down or imposed, prescribed. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Positive"?

Other words for "Positive" include admiring, applauding, appreciative, approbatory, approving, commendatory, complimentary and favorable. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Positive" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Positive"?

There are 77 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Positive". Common alternatives include admiring, applauding, appreciative, approbatory, approving, commendatory, complimentary, favorable, friendly and good.

What is the opposite of "Positive"?

Antonyms of "Positive" include adverse, depreciative, depreciatory, derogatory, disapproving, inappreciative, negative and unappreciative. Near antonyms include captious, carping, caviling and censuring.

How do you use "Positive" in a sentence?

Examples of "Positive" in a sentence: "hoped for a positive reaction from the audience"; "I'm positive that this is the right direction"; "seeks positive proof that UFO's exist".

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

"Positive" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

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

As an A2-level word, "Positive" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Positive"?

"Positive" is pronounced /ˈpä-zə-tiv/ and divided into syllables as pos·i·tive.