positive
/'pɔzətiv/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Characterized by certainty or affirmation: Expressing or implying agreement, acceptance, or confirmation, rather than negation or denial.
- Constructive, optimistic, or beneficial: Focused on good aspects, progress, or improvement; having a favorable effect.
- Explicitly laid down or formally stated: Formally established or imposed, as opposed to being natural or customary.
- Greater than zero: In mathematics, a number that is more than zero.
- Having a deficiency of electrons; electrically charged with a sign opposite to that of an electron: In physics, describing a type of electric charge.
- Showing the presence of a particular condition, substance, or organism: In medical or scientific testing, indicating that the tested-for condition is present.
Noun:
- A photographic image showing lights and shadows as they are in the original subject: In photography, the final print or slide where light areas correspond to light areas in the scene.
- The primary, uncompared degree of an adjective or adverb: In grammar, the basic form of an adjective or adverb (e.g., "fast," "good"), not the comparative or superlative.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- She gave a positive answer, agreeing to the proposal.
- He maintains a positive outlook on life, even during difficult times.
- The test results came back positive, confirming the diagnosis.
- Five is a positive number.
- The battery has a positive terminal and a negative terminal.
Noun:
- The photographer developed the film to create a positive.
- "Good" is the positive form of the adjective; "better" is the comparative.
Advanced Usage
"Proof positive": Conclusive or undeniable proof.
- The signed confession was proof positive of his guilt.
"In the positive": Affirmatively or favorably.
- The committee decided in the positive, approving the new policy.
"Positive thinking": The practice or philosophy of focusing on the good and expecting favorable outcomes.
- Her success is largely attributed to her habit of positive thinking.
Variants and Related Words
Positively (adverb): In a positive manner; with certainty or approval.
- She spoke positively about her experience.
Positivism (noun): A philosophical system recognizing only that which can be scientifically verified or which is capable of logical or mathematical proof.
- Logical positivism was an influential school of thought.
Positivity (noun): The practice of being or tendency to be positive or optimistic in attitude.
- His general positivity is infectious.
Synonyms
- Adjective: Affirmative, favorable, constructive, optimistic, certain, sure, beneficial, plus.
- Noun: Affirmative, print (in photography).
Antonyms
- Adjective: Negative, pessimistic, unfavorable, uncertain.
- Noun: Negative (in photography).
Related Phrases
Test positive (for): To have a test result that indicates the presence of a specific condition.
- The athlete tested positive for a banned substance.
Positive reinforcement: In psychology, encouraging a behavior by providing a rewarding consequence.
- Teachers often use positive reinforcement like praise to motivate students.
Positive discrimination: (Chiefly British) The practice or policy of favoring individuals belonging to groups known to have been discriminated against; similar to "affirmative action."
- The company's hiring policy includes elements of positive discrimination.
Adjective
- marked by excessive confidence
- an arrogant and cocksure materialist
- so overconfident and impudent as to speak to the queen
- the less he knows the more positive he gets
- having a positive charge
- protons are positive
- greater than zero
- positive numbers
- reckoned, situated or tending in the direction which naturally or arbitrarily is taken to indicate increase or progress or onward motion
- positive increase in graduating students
- of or relating to positivism
- positivist thinkers
- positivist doctrine
- positive philosophy
- impossible to deny or disprove
- incontrovertible proof of the defendant's innocence
- proof positive
- an irrefutable argument
- formally laid down or imposed
- positive laws
- indicating existence or presence of a suspected condition or pathogen
- a positive pregnancy test
- involving advantage or good
- a plus (or positive) factor
- persuaded of; very sure
- were convinced that it would be to their advantage to join
- I am positive he is lying
- was confident he would win
- characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.
- a positive attitude
- the reviews were all positive
- a positive benefit
- a positive demand
Noun
- a film showing a photographic image whose tones correspond to those of the original subject
- the primary form of an adjective or adverb; denotes a quality without qualification, comparison, or relation to increase or diminution