position
position — verb
1. to move a person or thing into the spot where it needs to be.
to move a person or thing into the spot where it needs to be.
Before filming, Lara positioned the lamp behind the blue chair.
position + object + place phrase
The nurse positioned the patient on the bed for the X-ray.
common in medical instructions
At the market stall, we positioned apples near the front sign.
For the class photo, the twins were positioned between their grandparents.
often passive when arranging people
A small fan was positioned above the oven to move smoke.
- position the lamp behind the chair
- position the patient on the bed
- position the camera above the table
- position people between two rows
Grammar Patterns
position + person/thing + place phrase
be positioned + place phrase
Usage Note
Often used in instructions, design, photography, and medical contexts where exact placement matters. It is usually followed by a phrase showing the intended location.
Common Mistakes
position — noun
1. the spot where a person or thing is, often explained by what is around it.
the spot where a person or thing is, often explained by what is around it.
A small red dot showed the boat's position on the phone map.
show a position on a map
Please mark the chair's position before the cleaners arrive tomorrow.
From my position near the door, I saw every guest enter.
position near another object
Emma changed the lamp's position to make more room for books.
- current position
- exact position
- mark the position
- change position
Grammar Patterns
show the position on a map
mark a position
change the position of something
Usage Note
Common after verbs such as 'show', 'mark', and 'change', and after prepositions like 'near', 'behind', and 'under'. Distinguish from sense 8, which is about arrangement rather than one exact spot.
Common Mistakes
2. the role and part of the field a player usually has in a team game.
the role and part of the field a player usually has in a team game.
Coach Wu moved Daniel to a new position on the right wing.
move someone to a new position
Mia learned the center position after two defenders got hurt.
Leo's best position is goalkeeper, not striker, these days.
best position is + role
At school, Nina played every position except goalkeeper.
- best position
- center position
- new position
- play every position
Grammar Patterns
play a position
move someone to a new position
best position is + role
Usage Note
Usually follows verbs such as 'play', 'move to', and 'learn'. The noun after it often names the area or role, such as 'goalkeeper', 'center', or 'right wing'.
Common Mistakes
3. a place used as a base or point for carrying out an action, especially in fighti
a place used as a base or point for carrying out an action, especially in fighting.
Soldiers dug a new position on the hill before sunrise.
military position on a hill
The guns fired from a hidden position behind the wall.
The scouts reported the enemy position near the bridge.
enemy position
By noon, medics had reached the forward position with water.
- enemy position
- forward position
- defensive position
- hold a position
Grammar Patterns
enemy position
forward position
hold a position
Usage Note
Mostly used in military or conflict contexts and often modified by words like 'enemy', 'hidden', and 'forward'. Distinguish from sense 1, which is the general meaning of physical location.
Common Mistakes
4. the set of circumstances someone is in at a particular time.
the set of circumstances someone is in at a particular time.
After the fire, the family was in a very hard position.
be in a hard position
No teacher wants to be in your position today.
The bank put Carla in a difficult position by calling late.
put someone in a difficult position
When the daycare closed early, Mei was in an awkward position.
- awkward position
- difficult position
- hard position
- put someone in a position
- situation
the closest general word, but less formal
- circumstances
often sounds broader and more formal
- case
used for a particular set of facts or problems
Grammar Patterns
be in a difficult position
put someone in a position
Usage Note
Most common in the pattern 'be in a ... position' with adjectives such as 'hard', 'difficult', or 'awkward'. Distinguish from sense 5, which is followed by 'to + verb' and focuses on ability.
Common Mistakes
5. to have the power, knowledge, or money needed to do something.
to have the power, knowledge, or money needed to do something.
After years of saving, Nora is in a position to buy a home.
be in a position to + verb
Only the chair is in a position to approve the plan.
With better data, doctors were in a position to act faster.
The charity is not in a position to lend money now.
negative form: not in a position to
- be in a position to act
- be in a position to approve
- be in a position to buy
- be in a position to help
- be able to
more general and less formal
- have the means to
stresses money or resources
- be qualified to
stresses skill or authority
- be unable to
shows lack of ability or permission
Grammar Patterns
be in a position to help
be in a position to approve
be in a position to buy
Usage Note
Only sense in this noun set that regularly takes the pattern 'be in a position to + verb'. Distinguish from sense 4, where 'position' describes circumstances without an infinitive after it.
Common Mistakes
6. a person's or group's level compared with others in work, society, or a competit
a person's or group's level compared with others in work, society, or a competition.
Mina's position in the company improved after the new sales record.
position in a company
The runner lost two positions on the final hill.
lose positions in a race
The school rose to a strong position in the national ranking.
Arun's family expected him to marry someone of similar position.
social position
- leading position
- position in the company
- social position
- lose positions
- low standing
suggests little importance or respect
Grammar Patterns
position in the company
lose positions
social position
Usage Note
Can describe social standing, importance inside an organization, or place in a race or list. Distinguish from sense 7, which names the job itself rather than rank or standing.
Common Mistakes
7. a paid role in a company or other organization
a paid role in a company or other organization
Mina left her bank position to start a small bakery.
The hospital advertised two nursing positions on its website.
plural count noun for jobs being offered
After ten years, Leo reached a senior position in sales.
collocation: senior position
Only one position remained open after the first interviews.
- apply for a position
- fill a position
- hold a position
- senior position
- open position
Usage Note
Often used for a job someone has or a job an employer is trying to fill. Common modifiers include senior, full-time, and temporary.
Common Mistakes
8. the order or pattern in which parts of something are set out
the order or pattern in which parts of something are set out
The teacher changed the position of the desks before art class.
position of + object
One digit in the wrong position ruined the door code.
On the poster, the logo's position made the words hard to read.
In the kitchen rack, the knives' positions felt awkward for left-handed cooks.
- change the position of
- the position of the desks
- the position of the logo
- the position of a number
- arrangement
A broad word for how parts are put together.
- layout
Often used for rooms, pages, maps, or screens.
- order
Stresses the sequence of parts more than their visual pattern.
- disorder
Suggests that parts are not placed in a clear or useful way.
Usage Note
Used for the arrangement of objects, numbers, pictures, or other parts of a thing. Sense 9 is about a person's body, not object layout.
9. the way a person's body is placed while sitting, standing, or lying
the way a person's body is placed while sitting, standing, or lying
The nurse helped Grandpa into a safer sleeping position.
collocation: sleeping position
In yoga class, Nina held the position for thirty seconds.
After the fall, Omar could not find a comfortable sitting position.
collocation: sitting position
The baby rolled into a funny position during the nap.
- sleeping position
- sitting position
- standing position
- comfortable position
Usage Note
Usually appears with words like sitting, standing, sleeping, or comfortable. Distinguish this sense from sense 8, which is about the arrangement of things.
10. a view you hold about an issue or argument
a view you hold about an issue or argument
The union explained its position on the pay cuts.
position on + issue
By Friday, both sides had softened their positions.
At the PTA meeting, my position was that schools needed more art classes.
position + be + that-clause
During the meeting, Carla defended her position calmly.
- official position on
- take a position on
- defend a position
- position is that
Grammar Patterns
position on + topic
position + be + that-clause
Usage Note
Common in formal discussion and often followed by on or by a that-clause. It usually suggests a settled view rather than a quick thought.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- positionaladjectiveC1
- positioningnounC1
- repositionverbC1
- repositioningnounC1
- well-positionedadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
For talking about where someone or something is, 'position' is more exact than 'place'. 'Place' is the broad everyday word and fits almost any location. 'Location' is more formal and is common in maps, business, film work, and technology. 'Spot' is informal and usually suggests a small, specific place. 'Site' is used when the place has a special purpose, such as building, research, or camping. 'Position' often adds the idea of arrangement in relation to other things, not just the general area. Compare these: 'We found a good place to sit' sounds natural for choosing somewhere, but 'Check the position of the fire exit on the plan' stresses exact placement.
Common collocations
Adverbs
- carefully
- exactly
- strategically
Phrases
- be in a position to
- be in a strong position
- move into position
- out of position
Prepositions
- position in
- position on
- position of
- position as
Etymology
English borrowed 'position' in late Middle English from Old French, which had taken it from Latin positio, meaning 'a placing' or 'a position'. The Latin noun came from ponere, 'to put' or 'to place'. The earliest uses in English were about physical placement, and later the word widened to cover rank, jobs, situations, and opinions as well.