Positive | Mean of positive in English Dictionary

/ˈpɑːzətɪv/

• good or useful
1. Did you have a positive [=pleasant] experience working with that company?
2. The book had a positive influence on me.
3. He has been a positive role model for his brother.
4. Nothing positive came out of that experience.
5. What are some of the positive things about your job?
6. The low unemployment rate is a positive sign for the economy.
7. The company took positive steps to create a safer workplace.
• thinking about the good qualities of someone or something
1. You've got to have a positive attitude/outlook to do well in life.
2. You should try to be more positive about the whole situation.
3. On the positive side, you will be making more money.
4. To end on a positive note, we are seeing an increase in sales this month.
• completely certain or sure that something is correct or true
1. We were positive that we would win the game.
2. “That is the street we need to take.” “Are you sure?” “(I'm) Positive.”
3. I'm not (absolutely) positive, but I think they won the World Series in 1954.

• showing or expressing support, approval, or agreement
1. Most of the response from the public has been positive [=favorable] so far.
2. The reviews were mostly positive.
3. positive feedback
4. The new Web site has received a positive response from its visitors.
• unable to be doubted
1. There is no positive [=definite, conclusive] proof that life exists on other planets.
2. The police have not yet made a positive identification of the victim.
3. The fact that the DNA samples did not match is proof positive that he is not the father.
• showing the presence of a particular germ, condition, or substance
1. He tested positive for steroids. [=the test showed that he had used steroids]
2. The test results were positive.
3. HIV positive patients
• greater than zero
1. a positive integer
• more than the amount of money spent or invested
1. We got a positive return on our investment. [=we made a profit on our investment]
• containing or producing electricity that is charged by a proton
1. a positive charge/current
• having more protons than electrons
1. a positive ion/particle
• absolute or complete
1. The way poor people are treated in this country is a positive disgrace.
• Noun
• something that is good or useful
1. The positives of living in the city include access to public transportation and many interesting restaurants.
2. The positives of the job outweigh the negatives. [=there are more good things about the job than bad things]
• the result from a test that shows that a particular germ, condition, or substance is present
1. The test showed a positive.
2. The test produced too many false positives [=results that showed something was present when it really was not] to be reliable.
• a photograph that shows light and dark areas or colors as they look in real life