positive

adjective

1 SURE (not before noun) very sure, with no doubt at all that something is right or true: “Are you sure?” “Positive.” | positive (that): Are you absolutely positive you locked the door?

(+ of/about): It was definitely his fault - James was positive of that.

2 CONFIDENT believing that you will be successful or that a situation will have a good result: You've got to be more positive about your work. | positive attitude/approach/outlook etc: She started to have a more positive outlook on life. | think positive: Think positive and all your problems will be solved.

—compare negative 1 (2)

3 LIKELY TO BE SUCCESSFUL showing that something is likely to succeed or improve: All the signs are extremely positive - he'll be well again soon.

4 AGREEMENT/SUPPORT showing that someone agrees with you, supports what you are doing, and wants you to succeed: The response we've had so far from the public has been very positive. | positive criticism/feedback (=criticism which includes praise for things done well, and encourages you to do better)

5 positive proof/evidence/identification etc proof, evidence etc that shows that there is no doubt that something is definitely true: The fingerprints are positive proof that Elliott is the murderer.

6 SCIENTIFIC TEST showing signs of the chemical or medical condition that was being looked for: The test results came back positive.

—opposite negative 1 (4)

7 GOOD/USEFUL having a good or useful effect: At least something positive has come out of the situation. | a very positive experience

8 MORALLY GOOD (usually before noun) showing or encouraging someone, especially a child, to behave in a way that is morally good: a positive social environment | positive role models

9 a positive miracle/delight/thrill etc spoken used to emphasize how good, surprising, exciting etc something is: It was a positive miracle that she survived.

10 MATHEMATICS technical a positive number is more than zero: + is the positive sign

11 ELECTRICITY (no comparative) technical having the type of electrical charge that is carried by protons: a positive charge

—opposite negative 1 (5)

12 positive pole the end of a magnet which turns naturally towards the Earth

13 BLOOD technical having rhesus factor in your blood

—opposite negative 1 (7) — positiveness noun (U)