Definitions for positive
ˈpɒz ɪ tɪvpos·i·tive

Princeton's WordNet(2.87 / 8 votes)Rate this definition:

1. positive, positive degree(noun)

   the primary form of an adjective or adverb; denotes a quality without qualification, comparison, or relation to increase or diminution

2. positive(adj)

   a film showing a photographic image whose tones correspond to those of the original subject

3. positive(adj)

   characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.

   "a positive attitude"; "the reviews were all positive"; "a positive benefit"; "a positive demand"

4. convinced(p), positive(p), confident(p)(adj)

   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"

5. plus, positive(adj)

   involving advantage or good

   "a plus (or positive) factor"

6. positive, confirming(adj)

   indicating existence or presence of a suspected condition or pathogen

   "a positive pregnancy test"

7. positive, prescribed(adj)

   formally laid down or imposed

   "positive laws"

8. incontrovertible, irrefutable, positive(adj)

   impossible to deny or disprove

   "incontrovertible proof of the defendant's innocence"; "proof positive"; "an irrefutable argument"

9. positivist, positivistic, positive(adj)

   of or relating to positivism

   "positivist thinkers"; "positivist doctrine"; "positive philosophy"

10. positive(adj)

    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"

11. positive(adj)

    greater than zero

    "positive numbers"

12. positive, electropositive, positively charged(adj)

    having a positive charge

    "protons are positive"

13. cocksure, overconfident, positive(adj)

    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"

Wiktionary(2.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. positive(Noun)

   A thing capable of being affirmed; something real or actual.

   Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

2. positive(Noun)

   A favourable point or characteristic.

   Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

3. positive(Noun)

   Something having a positive value in physics, such as an electric charge.

   Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

4. positive(Noun)

   An adjective or adverb in the positive degree.

   Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

5. positive(Noun)

   A positive image; one that displays true colors and shades, as opposed to a negative.

   Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

6. positive(Adjective)

   Formally laid down.

   Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

7. positive(Adjective)

   Stated definitively and without qualification.

   Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

8. positive(Adjective)

   Fully assured in opinion.

   Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

9. positive(Adjective)

   Of number, greater than zero.

   Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

10. positive(Adjective)

    Characterized by constructiveness or influence for the better.

    Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

11. positive(Adjective)

    Overconfident, dogmatic.

    Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

12. positive(Adjective)

    Actual, real, concrete, not theoretical or speculative.

    Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

13. positive(Adjective)

    Having more protons than electrons.

    Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

14. positive(Adjective)

    Describing the primary sense of an adjective or adverb; not comparative or superlative.

    Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

15. positive(Adjective)

    Derived from an object by itself; not dependent on changing circumstances or relations; absolute.

    Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

16. positive(Adjective)

    Characterized by the existence or presence of distinguishing qualities or features, rather than by their absence.

    Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

17. positive(Adjective)

    Characterized by the presence of features which support a hypothesis.

    Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

18. positive(Adjective)

    Of a visual image, true to the original in light, shade and colour values.

    Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

19. positive(Adjective)

    Favorable, desirable by those interested or invested in that which is being judged.

    Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

20. positive(Adjective)

    Wholly what is expressed; colloquially downright, entire, outright.

    Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

21. positive(Adjective)

    Optimistic.

    Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

22. positive(Adjective)

    HIV positive.

    Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

23. positive(Adjective)

    Good, desirable, healthful; (often precedes 'energy', 'thought', 'feeling' or 'emotion').

    Etymology: From Old (and modern) positif, or positivus, from the past participle stem of ponere. Compare posit.

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Positive(adj)

   having a real position, existence, or energy; existing in fact; real; actual; -- opposed to negative

   Etymology: [OE. positif, F. positif, L. positivus. See Position.]

2. Positive(adj)

   derived from an object by itself; not dependent on changing circumstances or relations; absolute; -- opposed to relative; as, the idea of beauty is not positive, but depends on the different tastes individuals

   Etymology: [OE. positif, F. positif, L. positivus. See Position.]

3. Positive(adj)

   definitely laid down; explicitly stated; clearly expressed; -- opposed to implied; as, a positive declaration or promise

   Etymology: [OE. positif, F. positif, L. positivus. See Position.]

4. Positive(adj)

   hence: Not admitting of any doubt, condition, qualification, or discretion; not dependent on circumstances or probabilities; not speculative; compelling assent or obedience; peremptory; indisputable; decisive; as, positive instructions; positive truth; positive proof

   Etymology: [OE. positif, F. positif, L. positivus. See Position.]

5. Positive(adj)

   prescribed by express enactment or institution; settled by arbitrary appointment; said of laws

   Etymology: [OE. positif, F. positif, L. positivus. See Position.]

6. Positive(adj)

   fully assured; confident; certain; sometimes, overconfident; dogmatic; overbearing; -- said of persons

   Etymology: [OE. positif, F. positif, L. positivus. See Position.]

7. Positive(adj)

   having the power of direct action or influence; as, a positive voice in legislation

   Etymology: [OE. positif, F. positif, L. positivus. See Position.]

8. Positive(adj)

   corresponding with the original in respect to the position of lights and shades, instead of having the lights and shades reversed; as, a positive picture

   Etymology: [OE. positif, F. positif, L. positivus. See Position.]

9. Positive(adj)

   electro-positive

   Etymology: [OE. positif, F. positif, L. positivus. See Position.]

10. Positive(adj)

    hence, basic; metallic; not acid; -- opposed to negative, and said of metals, bases, and basic radicals

    Etymology: [OE. positif, F. positif, L. positivus. See Position.]

11. Positive(noun)

    that which is capable of being affirmed; reality

    Etymology: [OE. positif, F. positif, L. positivus. See Position.]

12. Positive(noun)

    that which settles by absolute appointment

    Etymology: [OE. positif, F. positif, L. positivus. See Position.]

13. Positive(noun)

    the positive degree or form

    Etymology: [OE. positif, F. positif, L. positivus. See Position.]

14. Positive(noun)

    a picture in which the lights and shades correspond in position with those of the original, instead of being reversed, as in a negative

    Etymology: [OE. positif, F. positif, L. positivus. See Position.]

15. Positive(noun)

    the positive plate of a voltaic or electrolytic cell

    Etymology: [OE. positif, F. positif, L. positivus. See Position.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Positive

   Positive is a 2007 Hindi short film directed by Farhan Akhtar and produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under their Excel Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. banner. The film starred Shabana Azmi and Boman Irani in leads roles.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Positive

   poz′i-tiv, adj. definitely placed or laid down: clearly expressed: really existing: actual: not admitting of any doubt or qualification: decisive: settled by distinct appointment: arbitrarily prescribed, laid down—opp. to Natural: too confident in opinion: fully assured: certain: (gram.) noting the simple form of an adjective—as Positive degree of comparison: (math.) greater than zero, to be added, as Positive quantity: (phot.) having the lights and shades in the picture the same as in the original, instead of being reversed: (electr.) having a relatively high potential—opp. to Negative (q.v.).—n. that which is placed or laid down: that which may be affirmed: reality: a positive picture—opp. to Negative.—adv. Pos′itively.—ns. Pos′itiveness, state or quality of being positive: certainty: confidence; Pos′itivism, actual or absolute knowledge; Pos′itivist, a believer in positivism.—Pos′itivism, Positive philosophy, the philosophical system originated by Comte (1798-1857)—its foundation the doctrine that man can have no knowledge of anything but phenomena, and that the knowledge of phenomena is relative, not absolute. [Fr.,—L. positivus, fixed by agreement—ponĕre, to place.]

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. positive

   An enthusiastic, nonjudgmental, truthful, motivated and loving attitude, behavior, feeling, sense, understanding and knowing for life and experience.

   My sister is so positive, she is such a joy to be with.

   Submitted by MaryC on December 26, 2019  

Suggested Resources(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. positive

   Song lyrics by positive -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by positive on the Lyrics.com website.

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'positive' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1265

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'positive' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1175

3. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'positive' in Adjectives Frequency: #149

How to pronounce positive?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say positive in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of positive in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of positive in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of positive in a Sentence

1. Greg Anderson:

   You can't expect to prevent negative feelings altogether. And you can't expect to experience positive feelings all the time. The Law of Emotional Choice directs us to acknowledge our feelings but also to refuse to get stuck in the negative ones.

2. Nia Franklin:

   I grew up at a predominately Caucasian school and there was only five percent minority, and I felt out of place so much because of the color of my skin, but growing up, I found my love of arts, and through music that helped me to feel positive about Nia Franklin and about who I was.

3. Te Moana:

   I don't know if the mamae or the hurt will ever change, but the environment, it's up to the town itself to move forward from here in the most positive way.

4. Deutsche Telekom:

   It has been some time since we have seen positive indications for revenue and earnings in our industry, our clear strategy with strong investment is paying off.

5. Murat Toprak:

   It's not very surprising to see this risk-off action, if they don't hike because the U.S. economy is weak, how can this be positive for the global economy and emerging markets? That explains the fragile market sentiment.

Images & Illustrations of positive

Popularity rank by frequency of use