Meaning of position in English

position

noun

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/pəˈzɪʃ.ən/ us

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/pəˈzɪʃ.ən/

position noun (PLACE)

B1 [ C ]

the place where something or someone is, often in relation to other things:

Well, I've found our position on the map if you want to see where we are.

You've moved the furniture around - the sofa is in a different position.

[ C ]

(in team sports) the part someone plays in a game, relating to the area of the field in which they mostly play:

I didn't know you played hockey - what position do you play?

C1 [ C or U ]

the place where people are sent in order to carry out a course of action:

The troops took up their battle positions at the front line.

As soon as his officers were in position/had moved into position, the police commander walked up the path towards the house.

More examples

Since the volcano last erupted, many houses have been built in a dangerous position on its slopes.
The house is in a very exposed position.
The shop front occupies a very prominent position on the main street.
The blocks of stone had to be lifted into position with a system of pulleys.
Can you hold this nail in position while I hammer it into the door?

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

General location and orientation

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Competitors & participants in sports & games

Places and locations

position noun (SITUATION)

B1 [ C usually singular ]

a situation:

My financial position is somewhat precarious at the moment.

When two of your best friends argue, it puts you in a very awkward position.

be in a position to do sth

to be able to do something, usually because you have the necessary experience, authority, or money:

I'm not in a position to reveal any of the details of the project at present.

I'm sure they'd like to help her out financially, but they're not in a position to do so.

More examples

She's in the enviable position of being able to choose who she works for.
The company is in a bad financial position because of overproduction and distribution problems.
When friends divorce, you can find yourself in a really awkward position.
As a convicted criminal, he's in no position to pass judgment on the rest of us.
She's in an impossible position - she's got to leave him but she can't bear losing her children.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Situations and circumstances

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Skilled, talented and able

position noun (RANK)

B2 [ C ]

a rank or level in a company, competition, or society:

Whether or not you're given a car depends on your position in the company.

UK She finished the race in third position.

B2 [ C ]

a job:

She applied for a position in the firm that I work for.

Synonyms

appointment (JOB)
job (EMPLOYMENT)
post  (JOB)
situation old use

Compare

employment (WORK)

work noun (ACTIVITY)

More examples

There is a growing number of women in high-profile positions in the government.
This course aims to prepare students for middle and senior managerial positions.
The Italian champion was in second position when he came to grief on the third lap.
He currently holds the position of technical manager.
Manchester United and Liverpool are jousting for position at the top of the football league.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Organizations - position & status

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position noun (ARRANGEMENT)

B1 [ C ]

the way in which something is arranged:

Keep the bottles in an upright position.

Rotate it slowly from the horizontal into a vertical position.

[ C ]

the way in which someone is lying, sitting, or standing:

This is not a very comfortable position.

I go to sleep on my back but I always wake up in a different position.

You might feel more comfortable in a sitting position.

More examples

Can you hold this nail in position while I hammer it into the door?
Fishing nets are often held in position by floats.
Please return your seat to an upright position and fasten your belt.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Posture

position noun (OPINION)

[ C usually singular ] formal

an opinion:

What's the company's position on recycling?

He takes the position (= believes) that individuals have a responsibility to look after themselves.

More examples

The prime minister has adopted an inflexible position on immigration.
The group has taken a militant position on the abortion issue and is refusing to compromise.
You've made your position quite clear .
Do we have a fallback position for these negotiations?
I think we need to reconsider our position.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Opinions, beliefs and points of view

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position

verb [ T usually + adv/prep ]

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/pəˈzɪʃ.ən/ us

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/pəˈzɪʃ.ən/

to put something or someone in a particular place:

The army had been positioned to the north and east of the city.

When it came to seating people for dinner, I positioned myself as far away from him as possible.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Placing and positioning an object

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(Definition of position from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

position | American Dictionary

position

noun

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/pəˈzɪʃ·ən/

position noun (PLACE)

[ C/U ]

the place where something or someone is, often in relation to other things:

[ C ] I’ve switched the positions of the sofa and the chair.

[ C/U ]

In sports, a position is the place where you play on your team, or the responsibilities of someone who plays in that place:

[ C ] He played the shortstop position when he started in baseball.

position noun (RANK)

[ C ]

a rank or level in a company, competition, or society:

She’s devoted her life to improving the position of women in society.

[ C ]

A position in a company or organization is also a job:

He applied for the position of marketing manager.

position noun (SITUATION)

[ C usually sing ]

a situation or condition:

a shaky financial position

She found herself in a difficult position and didn’t know what to say.

[ C usually sing ]

If you are in a position to do something, you are able to do it, usually because you have the necessary power or money:

[ + to infinitive ] Do you think she’s in a position to help you?

position noun (OPINION)

[ C ]

a way of thinking about a particular matter; opinion:

Our position is that we’ve made a very fair offer to settle this dispute.

position noun (ARRANGEMENT OF BODY)

[ C ]

the way in which the body is arranged:

My knees get stiff when I sit in the same position for a long time.

position

verb [ T ] us

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/pəˈzɪʃ·ən/

The Secret Service men quickly positioned themselves around the president.

(Definition of position from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

position | Business English

position

noun [ C ]

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/pəˈzɪʃən/ us

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HR, WORKPLACE

a job, especially one that is important:

advertise/fill a position We hope to fill the position within the next two months.

apply for/take up/fill a position She will soon take up an important position with a firm of lawyers.

He filled the position of Executive Director recently vacated by Terry John.

a rank or level of success in a company, in society, etc.:

establish/gain/hold a position He took advantage of every opportunity to establish his position within the company.

strengthen sb's position Industry insiders said the move would strengthen the position of the chief executive on the board.

a situation that someone or something is in:

The bank's position looks difficult, to say the least.

put sb/sth in a position This decision put me in an awkward position with regard to my staff.

They were not willing to release details of the company's financial position.

be in a strong/weak position Luckily, we were in a strong position compared to the competition.

reach a/the position We want to reach a position where we can pay off the debt.

consolidate/strengthen/weaken sb's position This news will serve to consolidate our position in the market.

an opinion on an important subject:

position on sth What's the company's position on outsourcing?

take the position that The Board will certainly take the position that their decision was justified.

take a position (on sth) When you are negotiating, you will need to take a position and be prepared to stick to it.

FINANCE

the fact of investing in something, or the total amount that is invested:

take a position (on sth) Investors can take a position on any stock quoted in London.

hedge a position The riskier the stock, the more you will need to hedge your position.

be in a position to do sth

to be able to do something, usually because you have the necessary experience, authority, or money:

Nine months ago, we were not in a position to announce the expansion plan.

Examples of position

position

The optimal position of the focal spot was found to be at the distance of 6 mm before the laser-produced plume.

From Cambridge English Corpus

The postmodern position is the one paradigm of qualitative methodology that is intrinsically incommensurable with quantitative research paradigms.

From Cambridge English Corpus

These examples are from the Cambridge English Corpus and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

More examples Fewer examples

For each of these three secular philosophical positions, the project of a history of science revealed a basic paradox.

From Cambridge English Corpus

These were replaced by the next highest reading time for that subject in that condition and at that position.

From Cambridge English Corpus

High valence parties will contest the electoral centre, but will not, in fact, position themselves at the electoral mean.

From Cambridge English Corpus

This provides smooth and reliable global motion paths which avoid local obstacles from the current position to the goal destination.

From Cambridge English Corpus

The remaining funds of (1xb) must be invested in the riskless asset to ensure that the total position is riskless.

From Cambridge English Corpus

The second model considers only deviations which affects the orientation of the endeffector but not its position assuming that the mechanism remains spherical ("model 9").

From Cambridge English Corpus

In the case of parsimony analysis, 113 of the remaining alignment positions were parsimony informative.

From Cambridge English Corpus

And the spread of statesupported schools throughout the colony vastly increased the number of teaching positions open to college graduates.

From Cambridge English Corpus

The variation of the position-orientation is supposed to be small.

From Cambridge English Corpus

These results justify the use of a constant standard deviation to generate shocks to party positions in all systems.

From Cambridge English Corpus

Beyond a more complete recounting of the story, we are in a position to do three things.

From Cambridge English Corpus

Space is not the place (real or logical) within which things are disposed, but rather the means through which the position of things becomes possible.

From Cambridge English Corpus

In both cases the historical actor becomes a subject, his conceptual world derives from his position in a structural relationship only.

From Cambridge English Corpus

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