positive
PAH-zih-tihv
Positive (adj) means Optimistic, constructive, or good in effect. Example: “He gave us some positive feedback about the project.”
adj
1
Optimistic, constructive, or good in effect.
"He gave us some positive feedback about the project."
"She stayed positive despite the setback."
"The reviews were overwhelmingly positive."
2
Certain or confident about something.
"Are you positive that this is the right address?"
"She was positive she had seen him at the station."
"I'm positive I locked the door."
3
Greater than zero, in mathematics.
"Five is a positive number, but minus five is not."
"On the graph, positive values appear above the horizontal line."
"The result must be a positive number."
4
Showing the presence of a substance or condition being tested for, as in a medical test.
"The pregnancy test was positive, and they were delighted."
"Blood samples that test positive are sent away for further checks."
"His test came back positive for the virus."
noun
1
A favorable point or characteristic.
"A big positive of living here is the peace and quiet."
"Let's list the positives and negatives before we decide."
"One positive of remote work is the flexible schedule."
How to use positive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGood, optimistic, certain, greater than zero, or showing a detected result on a test — the meaning shifts with context.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
positive attitude
test positive
positive number
stay positive
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like positive.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- positives
- Comparative
- more positive
- Superlative
- most positive
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He gave us some _____ feedback about the project.
Etymology
From Latin positivus, related to ponere ("to place"), originally meaning "formally laid down" before it took on its modern sense of "affirmative."
Synonyms
View more →
optimistic
upbeat
constructive
encouraging
hopeful
favorable
affirmative
confirming
positivist
positivistic
positive degree
cocksure
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for positive
See all rhymes for positive →Frequently asked questions
What does “positive” mean?
The word “positive” means optimistic, constructive, or good in effect. In plain terms, good, optimistic, certain, greater than zero, or showing a detected result on a test — the meaning shifts with context.
How do you pronounce “positive”?
“Positive” is pronounced PAH-zih-tihv (/ˈpɑzɪtɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “positive” in a sentence?
Here is “positive” used in a sentence: “She stayed positive despite the setback.”
What part of speech is “positive”?
Depending on how it is used, “positive” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “positive” come from?
The word “positive” comes from Latin. From Latin positivus, related to ponere ("to place"), originally meaning "formally laid down" before it took on its modern sense of "affirmative.".
Is “positive” a common word?
“Positive” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “positive” have?
“Positive” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: optimistic, constructive, or good in effect.
What is the difference between positive and negative?
Positive describes something optimistic, constructive, or good in effect; negative describes the reverse — pessimistic, discouraging, or harmful. A positive attitude looks for what can go right, while a negative one dwells on what can go wrong. In many fields the pair also marks presence versus absence, or plus versus minus.
Is positive a good word?
Generally yes — describing someone or something as positive is a compliment, suggesting optimism, encouragement, or a helpful effect. The main exception is technical: a positive medical test or diagnosis means a condition is present, which is often unwelcome news. Context decides whether positive is reassuring or simply factual.
What is an example of a positive attitude?
Someone with a positive attitude might treat a setback as a chance to learn rather than a failure, encourage teammates when a project stalls, or focus on solutions instead of blame. Saying 'we can fix this' rather than 'this is hopeless' captures the constructive, optimistic outlook the word describes.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include positive:
