position

A2 Topic:Space, Position & Direction

US /pəˈzɪʃən/ UK /pəˈzɪʃ.ən/ See IPA manual

Freq #980

Meanings

1

noun
The place where someone or something is.

Usage: For location, position tells you where something is placed. Change the position of something and move it into position are useful patterns.

The map shows the exact position of the shelter beside the river.

From this position you can see the whole valley.
2

noun
A job or post in an organization.

She applied for a position at the bank.
3

noun
An opinion or attitude on a particular issue.

My position on this matter has not changed.
4

noun
The way someone holds their body; a posture.

Stand in this position, with your arms at your sides.
5

noun
A rank or status compared with others.

Chief of Staff is the second-highest position in the army.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the place where someone or... spatial relationstead

Word family

Forms positionedpositioningpositions

Related forms ponentposeposishpositpositionalpositive

Appears in

Phrases (12)

See all

change position
move to or adopt a different location or stance

Verb + noun
awkward position
an uncomfortable or difficult situation

Adjective + noun
leading position
a first-place or dominant standing

Adjective + noun
strong position
an advantageous or powerful situation

Adjective + noun
fill a position
appoint someone to an open role

Verb + noun
hold a position
keep or maintain a job, role, or stance

Verb + noun

Idioms (1)

See all

jockey for position
to maneuver competitively in order to gain the most advantageous position

Etymology

Through French posicion, from Latin positiō, a placing, related to positus, a form of pōnō, whose infinitive is pōnere.

*tḱey- Proto-Indo-European posicioun Middle English posicion Old French positiō Latin ponere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Space, Position & Direction

External links

# position

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /pəˈzɪʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /pəˈzɪʃ.ən/
**Frequency rank:** 980

## Meanings
1. The place where someone or something is.
2. A job or post in an organization.
3. An opinion or attitude on a particular issue.
4. The way someone holds their body; a posture.
5. A rank or status compared with others.

## Usage Notes
- The place where someone or something is.: For location, position tells you where something is placed. Change the position of something and move it into position are useful patterns.

## Examples
- The map shows the exact position of the shelter beside the river.
- From this position you can see the whole valley.
- She applied for a position at the bank.
- My position on this matter has not changed.
- Stand in this position, with your arms at your sides.
- Chief of Staff is the second-highest position in the army.

## Related Forms
- ponent
- pose
- posish
- posit
- positional
- positive

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *tḱey-
- Root: posicioun
- Root: posicion
- Root: positiō
- Root: ponere - to put

## Etymology
Through French posicion, from Latin positiō, a placing, related to positus, a form of pōnō, whose infinitive is pōnere.

## AI Etymology
Position comes from Middle English posicioun, from Old French posicion, from Latin positiō (“a putting, position”), from positus (“placed, situated”), past participle of pōnō (“to place”); see ponent. Compare apposition, composition, deposition; see pose. In present-day English it covers the place where someone or something is, a job or post in an organization, and an opinion or attitude on a particular issue. The wider family includes related forms such as ponent, pose, posish, posit.

## Topics
- Space, Position & Direction

markdown