position

1 of 2

noun

po·​si·​tion pə-ˈzi-shən 

1

: an act of placing or arranging: such 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

position

2 of 2

verb

positioned; positioning pə-ˈzi-sh(ə-)niŋ 

transitive verb

: to put in a certain position

positioned the chairs around the room

positioned the company in the global market

Synonyms

Noun

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

Verb

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

Examples of position in a Sentence

Noun

From this position, you can see all of New York City's skyline.

Actors, please assume your positions. The show is about to begin.

The child fell asleep in a sitting position.

I was in an uncomfortable position and had to move.

I was uncomfortable, so I shifted position.

Return your seat to an upright position for landing.

Verb

He positioned the chairs around the table.

The company is positioning itself to take advantage of a new market.

The shortstop was positioned well to make the play.

She positioned herself by the door.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There’s a profound difference between Exxon’s positions and the president-elect, who ran on a platform of developing more oil, reducing energy prices, and sidelining climate change policies. —Ken Silverstein, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024

After all, in late October, a co-chair of the Trump transition team promised that Kennedy would not be picked to lead the department, only for Trump to name him to that position two weeks later. —Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 3 Dec. 2024

Verb

As Progressive looks to the future, the company continues to position itself to be at the forefront of an industry often viewed as slow to innovate. —Stephen Wunker, Forbes, 3 Dec. 2024

Jones, who ran the Bears for three seasons and won a title in 1932, was an innovator credited with being the first coach to position the quarterback under center. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1817, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing position

• fetal position
• in a compromising position
• in a position of authority
• in no position to
• jockey for position
• lotus position
• missionary position
• plan position indicator
• pole position
• position effect
• position of strength
• position of trust
• position paper
• standard position

Kids Definition

position

1 of 2 noun

po·​si·​tion pə-ˈzish-ən 

1

a

: the manner in which something is placed or arranged

b

: a certain arrangement of the body

exercise while in a sitting position

2

: a stand taken on a question

3

: the point or area occupied by something

4

a

: one's rank in an organization or in society

b

: job sense 3

positional

-ˈzish-(ə-)nəl

adjective

position

2 of 2 verb

positioned; positioning -ˈzish-(ə-)niŋ 

: to put in a certain position

Etymology

Noun

Middle English posycion "position," from early French posicioun (same meaning), from Latin positio "position," from ponere "to put, place" — related to compound entry 1

Medical Definition

position

1 of 2 noun

po·​si·​tion pə-ˈzish-ən 

: a particular arrangement or location

specifically : an arrangement of the parts of the body considered particularly desirable for some medical or surgical procedure

knee-chest position

the prone position

positional

pə-ˈzish-ᵊn-əl 

adjective

position

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to put in proper position