positively

positively — adverb

1. with hope, approval, or confidence that a person, plan, or situation can turn ou

1.adverbB2
Definition

with hope, approval, or confidence that a person, plan, or situation can turn out well.

Example

The school responded positively to Maya's idea for a reading club.

respond positively to + noun

After the first meeting, both investors spoke positively about the new app.

speak positively about + noun

Common collocations
  • respond positively to
  • react positively
  • think positively
  • speak positively about
Synonyms
  • favorably

    very close in meaning; often used for opinions, reviews, and official reactions.

  • optimistically

    focuses more on hope for the future than on approval.

  • approvingly

    centres on showing agreement or praise, especially in speech or facial expression.

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

think positively

speak positively about + noun

respond positively to + noun

Usage Note

Often used with verbs like think, react, speak, and respond, especially before about or to phrases. Distinguish from sense 2 CERTAINLY, which gives a firm answer rather than a hopeful or approving attitude.

Common Mistakes

The staff answered positive to my email.
The staff responded positively to my email.
use the adverb after the verb; 'positive' is the adjective.
I think positively to the plan.
I think positively about the plan.
use 'about' for the thing you are judging.

2. with complete certainty, so that no real doubt remains about the answer or fact.

2.adverbC1
Definition

with complete certainty, so that no real doubt remains about the answer or fact.

Example

The guide could not positively identify the mountain through the thick fog.

not positively identify + noun

Nora positively refused to lend her brother the car again.

positively refuse + to-infinitive

Common collocations
  • positively confirm
  • positively refuse
  • positively identify
  • positively no
Synonyms
  • certainly

    the plain everyday equivalent, with less dramatic force.

  • definitely

    common in conversation; slightly less formal and old-fashioned.

  • categorically

    stronger and more formal, especially with denials or refusals.

Antonyms
  • possibly

    shows uncertainty instead of firm certainty.

  • uncertainly

    describes hesitation or lack of confidence.

Grammar Patterns

positively confirm + noun

positively refuse + to-infinitive

not positively identify + noun

Usage Note

Often appears with no, refuse, confirm, remember, or identify when the speaker wants to remove doubt. Distinguish from sense 3 FOR EMPHASIS: this sense is about certainty, not simply making a description stronger.

Common Mistakes

I positively know maybe the train is late.
I positively know the train is late.
this sense shows certainty, so it clashes with 'maybe'.
We positively think the painter will come.
We definitely think the painter will come.
in everyday guesses, 'definitely' is usually more natural than this formal, emphatic use.

3. used in informal speech to make a statement sound much stronger, often with surp

3.adverbC1
Definition

used in informal speech to make a statement sound much stronger, often with surprise or vivid feeling.

Example

By noon, the bus station was positively empty after the storm.

positively + adjective

That tiny puppy was positively fearless around the big farm dogs.

positively + adjective

Common collocations
  • positively empty
  • positively fearless
  • positively spotless
  • positively silent
Synonyms
  • really

    the most common everyday intensifier; much more neutral in tone.

  • absolutely

    strong intensifier that often sounds more forceful or modern.

  • downright

    informal and vivid; often used before negative adjectives.

Antonyms
  • slightly

    reduces strength instead of increasing it.

  • mildly

    suggests only a small degree.

Grammar Patterns

positively + adjective

positively + past participle

Usage Note

Common in lively speech or writing before adjectives and participles such as delighted, awful, or silent. Distinguish from sense 2 CERTAINLY: here the speaker is intensifying a description, not proving that something is true.

Common Mistakes

The weather was positively.
The weather was positively awful.
this sense usually needs an adjective or similar word after it.
I positively finished my homework' (meaning 'really finished it').
I really finished my homework.
before a main verb, 'positively' often sounds like certainty instead of simple emphasis.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

For adverb/1, 'positively' is a broad word for reacting in a hopeful or approving way. 'Favorably' is closest when the meaning is judgement or public opinion: a newspaper can review a play favorably, or a committee can look favorably on a plan. 'Optimistically' is narrower because it stresses hope about the future, even without approval. 'Approvingly' usually shows support in a person's tone, face, or words. 'Enthusiastically' is warmer and more energetic than 'positively', which can still sound calm or professional. Compare: 'Investors responded positively to the proposal' suggests support, while 'Lena looked at the results optimistically' stresses hope.

positively ↗favorablyoptimisticallyapprovinglyenthusiastically ↗

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Formed in English from the adjective 'positive' and the adverb ending '-ly'. 'Positive' came into English through French from Latin 'positivus', a word related to 'ponere', meaning 'to place' or 'to set down'. Earlier uses of 'positive' often meant 'stated clearly' or 'laid down as a fact'. From that base, English developed both the idea of certainty and the modern idea of something good or hopeful, and 'positively' came to express both.