position

¹po·si·tion

noun \pə-ˈzi-shən\

Definition of POSITION

1

: an act of placing or arranging: as

a : the laying down of a proposition or thesis

b : an arranging in order

2

: a point of view adopted and held to <made my position on the issue clear>

3

a : the point or area occupied by a physical object : location <took her position at the head of the line>

b : a certain arrangement of bodily parts <rose to a standing position>

4

: a market commitment in securities or commodities; also : the inventory of a market trader

5

a : relative place, situation, or standing <is now in a position to make decisions on his own>

b : social or official rank or status

c : an employment for which one has been hired : job <a position with a brokerage firm>

d : a situation that confers advantage or preference

Examples of POSITION

1. From this position, you can see all of New York City's skyline.
2. Actors, please assume your positions. The show is about to begin.
3. The child fell asleep in a sitting position.
4. I was in an uncomfortable position and had to move.
5. I was uncomfortable, so I shifted position.
6. Return your seat to an upright position for landing.

Origin of POSITION

Middle English posycion, from Anglo-French posicioun, from Latin position-, positio, from ponere to lay down, put, place, from Old Latin *posinere, from po- away (akin to Old Church Slavic po-, perfective prefix, Greek apo away) + Latin sinere to leave — more at of

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to POSITION

Synonyms

appointment, berth, billet, capacity, connection, function, place, job, post, situation

Related Words

business, employ, employment, occupation, profession; work; office, spot; calling, pursuit, trade, vocation; line, racket; engagement, gig; livelihood, living; career, lifework, practice (also practise); duty, mission, posting, service, task

Near Antonyms

avocation; joblessness, unemployment

Rhymes with POSITION

addition, admission, ambition, attrition, audition, beautician, clinician, cognition, coition, commission, condition, contrition, demission, dentition, dismission, Domitian, edition, emission, ethician, fruition, ignition, Kittitian, lenition, logician, magician, Mauritian, monition, mortician, munition, musician, nutrition, omission, optician, partition, patrician, perdition, permission, petition, Phoenician, physician, Politian, punition, remission, rendition, sedition, submission, suspicion, tactician, technician, tradition, transition, transmission, tuition, volition

²position

transitive verb

po·si·tionedpo·si·tion·ing \pə-ˈzi-sh(ə-)niŋ\

Definition of POSITION

: to put in a certain position <positioned the chairs around the room> <positioned the company in the global market>

Examples of POSITION

1. He positioned the chairs around the table.
2. The company is positioning itself to take advantage of a new market.
3. The shortstop was positioned well to make the play.
4. She positioned herself by the door.

First Known Use of POSITION

1817

Related to POSITION

Synonyms

depose, deposit, dispose, emplace, fix, lay, place, put, set, set up, situate, stick

Related Words

move, rearrange, reorder, shift; orient; establish, locate, plant, settle; clap, flop, plank, plop, plump, plunk (or plonk), plunk down, slap; ensconce, niche; assemble, collect; carry; berth, park; affix, anchor, lock, lodge, wedge; array, lay out, line up, queue, rank; set down

Near Antonyms

relocate, remove, take; banish; dislodge, displace, replace, supersede, supplant

Rhymes with POSITION

ambition, audition, commission, condition, munition, partition, patrician, petition, Phoenician, suspicion, transition