A1adjective1K

Positive

UK /["/ˈpɒzətɪv/"]/US /["/ˈpɑːzətɪv/"]/

Definition

good or useful

In simple words: Having a good attitude or a good feeling about something.

Examples

  • She has a positive attitude that inspires everyone around her.
  • The feedback from the project was overwhelmingly positive.
  • He always tries to find a positive side to every situation.
  • It's important to maintain a positive mindset for success.
  • The doctor gave me a positive diagnosis after the tests.
  • Having positive relationships can enhance your well-being.
  • Her outlook was so positive that it lifted the spirits of our entire team.
  • I received a positive response to my application.

Usage notes

Use 'positive' to describe feelings, thoughts, or results. It's appropriate in most contexts, but avoid in very technical discussions where precision is key.

Grammar pattern

positive + noun

Memory hint

Think of ‘plus’ in math; positive means something good.

Collocations

  • appear
  • be
  • feel
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • about
  • be
  • prove
  • test
  • strongly
  • weakly
  • for
  • be
  • seem
  • sound
  • absolutely
  • quite
  • fairly
  • about
  • of

Synonyms

  • conclusive
  • absolute

Antonyms

  • negative
  • pessimistic

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'positive' vs 'negative'.
  • Using 'positively' in place of 'positive' incorrectly.
  • Mispronouncing 'positive' without the correct emphasis.