Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
1.
If you are ~ about things, you are hopeful and confident, and think of the good aspects of a situation rather than the bad ones.
Be ~ about your future and get on with living a normal life...
...a ~ frame of mind.
? negative
ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, oft ADJ about n
~ly
You really must try to start thinking ~ly.
ADV: ADV after v
2.
A ~ fact, situation, or experience is pleasant and helpful to you in some way.
The parting from his sister had a ~ effect on John...
? negative
ADJ: usu ADJ n
•
The ~ in a situation is the good and pleasant aspects of it.
Work on the ~, creating beautiful, loving and fulfilling relationships.
? negative
N-SING: the N
3.
If you make a ~ decision or take ~ action, you do something definite in order to deal with a task or problem.
Having a good diet gives me a sense that I’m doing something ~ and that I’m in control.
ADJ: usu ADJ n
4.
A ~ response to something indicates agreement, approval, or encouragement.
There’s been a ~ response to the UN Secretary-General’s recent peace efforts.
? negative
ADJ: usu ADJ n
~ly
He responded ~ly and accepted the fee of ?1000 I had offered.
ADV: ADV after v
5.
If you are ~ about something, you are completely sure about it.
I’m as ~ as I can be about it...
‘She’s never late. You sure she said eight?’—‘Positive.’
ADJ: v-link ADJ
6.
Positive evidence gives definite proof of the truth or identity of something.
There was no ~ evidence that any birth defects had arisen as a result of Vitamin A intake.
= conclusive
ADJ: ADJ n
~ly
He has ~ly identified the body as that of his wife.
ADV: ADV with v
7.
If a medical or scientific test is ~, it shows that something has happened or is present.
If the test is ~, a course of antibiotics may be prescribed...
He was stripped of his Olympic Hundred Metres gold medal after testing ~ for steroids.
? negative
HIV ~: see HIV
ADJ
8.
A ~ number is greater than zero.
It’s really a simple numbers game with negative and ~ numbers.
? negative
ADJ: ADJ n
9.
If something has a ~ electrical charge, it has the same charge as a proton and the opposite charge to an electron. (TECHNICAL)
? negative
ADJ: usu ADJ n