A2 adjective Neutral #506 most common

positive

/ˈpɒzətɪv/

To be hopeful and confident about a situation, or to think about the good parts rather than the bad. It can also describe a result that shows something is present, such as in a medical test or a scientific study.

Examples

3 of 5
1

I try to have a positive attitude every morning when I wake up.

I try to have a positive attitude every morning when I wake up.

2

The committee reached a positive conclusion regarding the new proposal.

The committee reached a positive conclusion regarding the new proposal.

3

Stay positive, I'm sure things will get better soon!

Stay positive, I'm sure things will get better soon!

Word Family

Noun
positivity
Adverb
positively
Adjective
positive
Related
positivism
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Memory Tip

Think of the plus sign (+) in math. It adds value and goes up, just like a positive person’s energy.

Quick Quiz

If you want to be happy, it helps to have a ______ outlook on life.

Correct!

The correct answer is: positive

Examples

1

I try to have a positive attitude every morning when I wake up.

everyday

I try to have a positive attitude every morning when I wake up.

2

The committee reached a positive conclusion regarding the new proposal.

formal

The committee reached a positive conclusion regarding the new proposal.

3

Stay positive, I'm sure things will get better soon!

informal

Stay positive, I'm sure things will get better soon!

4

The research showed a positive correlation between exercise and mental health.

academic

The research showed a positive correlation between exercise and mental health.

5

We received positive feedback from our main client about the project.

business

We received positive feedback from our main client about the project.

Word Family

Noun
positivity
Adverb
positively
Adjective
positive
Related
positivism

Common Collocations

positive attitude positive attitude
positive results positive results
positive thinking positive thinking
positive feedback positive feedback
positive impact positive impact

Common Phrases

Stay positive

Stay positive

Think positive

Think positive

A positive sign

A positive sign

Often Confused With

positive vs possessive

Possessive relates to owning things or being jealous, while positive relates to optimism.

positive vs definite

While 'positive' can mean 'certain' (e.g., I'm positive), 'definite' is more commonly used for facts that are fixed.

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Usage Notes

In addition to meaning 'optimistic', 'positive' is used in medical contexts to mean that a virus or condition was found. It can also mean 'certain' or 'sure' in spoken English.

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Common Mistakes

Learners often use the word 'positive' to describe a person who is 'nice,' but it specifically refers to their outlook or the results of an action.

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Memory Tip

Think of the plus sign (+) in math. It adds value and goes up, just like a positive person’s energy.

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Word Origin

From the Latin 'positivus', meaning 'settled' or 'placed by agreement'.

Grammar Patterns

Used before a noun (a positive person) Used after a linking verb (He is positive) Can be followed by 'that' clause (I am positive that it's true)
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Cultural Context

In many Western cultures, 'positive thinking' is a popular concept encouraged in self-help and business for personal success.

Quick Quiz

If you want to be happy, it helps to have a ______ outlook on life.

Correct!

The correct answer is: positive

Related Words

unvolsion

C1

The process of deliberately detaching or withdrawing from a state of complex entanglement or involvement, often within social or systemic structures. It describes a conscious reversal of 'involution,' where one seeks to simplify or exit a convoluted situation.

circumpugible

C1

To systematically encircle and attack or challenge a target from all possible directions. This verb is often used to describe strategic military maneuvers or intense rhetorical debates where an opponent is overwhelmed from every side.

semidocable

C1

A semidocable is a technical component or data unit that possesses limited or conditional compatibility with a primary docking system or documentation framework. It typically designates an item that requires secondary manual verification or a specialized adapter to achieve full functional integration.

postgradism

C1

Postgradism refers to the sociocultural condition, mindset, or lifestyle associated with being a postgraduate student. It often describes the immersive academic environment or the tendency for individuals to remain in higher education for an extended period after completing their initial degree.

inurbtude

C1

To cause a person to lose their refined or sophisticated manners, typically by subjecting them to a rough or unpolished environment. It describes the process of becoming inurbane, socially coarse, or lacking in city-bred civility.

hypermaterness

C1

Characterized by or relating to an extreme, often overbearing state of maternal instinct and overprotectiveness. This term is used to describe a level of mothering that exceeds typical boundaries, potentially stifling the independence of the child.

decedance

C1

Characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline, often associated with excessive indulgence in luxury, pleasure, or self-gratification. In modern contexts, it frequently describes things that are luxuriously rich or self-indulgent to the point of being excessive.

tricentcide

C1

Describing an act, event, or substance that results in the destruction or death of exactly three hundred distinct entities or individuals. It is also used in theoretical historical contexts to describe the catastrophic end of a three-hundred-year cycle or era.

autofugdom

C1

Describing a state of self-imposed isolation or the psychological condition of fleeing from one's own identity or social responsibilities. It characterizes a person or behavior focused on internal withdrawal and the avoidance of external reality to preserve a sense of self.

inplication

C1

To show that someone or something is involved in a crime, a scandal, or an undesirable situation. It can also refer to demonstrating that something is a contributing factor or cause of a specific outcome, typically a negative one.

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