positively
Americanadverb
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with certainty; absolutely.
The statement is positively true.
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decidedly; unquestionably; definitely.
His conduct is positively shocking.
interjection
adverb
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in a positive manner
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(intensifier)
he disliked her: in fact, he positively hated her
Etymology
Origin of positively
Explanation
Positively is a word that places emphasis on another word or statement. A positively funny joke is an extremely funny joke. Some words — like very and absolutely — exist mainly to turn the volume up on other things we say. Positively is like that. If your back hurts, you might say, "It's positively killing me!" If you want to see a movie, you might say, "I absolutely, positively must go." Someone might ask, "Are you positively sure you don't want some cake?" if they can't quite believe you don't want some. People use this word to emphasize a point.
Vocabulary lists containing positively
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.
Education Minister Paul Givan said negotiations on the issue had made "significant progress" over the summer and he hoped the ongoing talks would be "concluded positively to avoid industrial action".
From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2026
Despite those uncertainties, the researchers suggest: "Collectively, our findings provide robust evidence supporting a gut-muscle axis in which R inulinivorans positively modulates muscle metabolism and muscle strength."
From Science Daily ● Aug. 22, 2026
A Nielsen Sports study commissioned by the IPC found that 73% of people thought the Paris Paralympic Games positively changed their attitudes toward people with disabilities.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
Sandisk traded higher, with several Wall Street firms responding positively to the company’s long-term revenue growth plan.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
We are working to positively ID his body and determine if he was indeed the driver of the vehicle.
From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed
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.
