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Synonyms

positively

American  
[poz-i-tiv-lee, poz-i-tiv-lee] / ˈpɒz ɪ tɪv li, ˌpɒz ɪˈtɪv li /

adverb

  1. with certainty; absolutely.

    The statement is positively true.

  2. decidedly; unquestionably; definitely.

    His conduct is positively shocking.

interjection

  1. (used to express strong affirmation) yes.

    Do you plan to go to the party? Positively!
positively British  
/ ˈpɒzɪtɪvlɪ /

adverb

  1. in a positive manner

  2. (intensifier)

    he disliked her: in fact, he positively hated her
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

  1. unquestionably; absolutely

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of positively

First recorded in 1585–95; positive + -ly

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Traders have looked positively at energy companies amid a major shock to oil prices and forecasts that oil will continue to be a key driver for U.S. economic growth.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Given that these days, EPS revisions are the almost sole driver of investment sentiment, we expect investors will react positively.”

From The Wall Street Journal

But as a rule, Clare never sent a wandering spirit to this particular realm unless he was absolutely, positively, most certainly certain.

From Literature

"Nonsense" could also positively or negatively influence GPT's responses when it was added to an argument the AI was asked to evaluate.

From Barron's

Shi previously worried about various royalty increases, but noted that Arm was able to positively surprise him with the results of those moves, as there was “little customer backlash.”

From MarketWatch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.