position Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the particular portion of space occupied by something
    place.
    • he put the lamp back in its place
  2. noun a point occupied by troops for tactical reasons
    military position.
  3. noun a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
    perspective; view.
    • consider what follows from the positivist view
  4. noun the arrangement of the body and its limbs
    attitude; posture.
    • he assumed an attitude of surrender
  5. noun the relative position or standing of things or especially persons in a society
    status.
    • he had the status of a minor
    • the novel attained the status of a classic
    • atheists do not enjoy a favorable position in American life
  6. noun a job in an organization
    berth; office; billet; spot; place; situation; post.
    • he occupied a post in the treasury
  7. noun the spatial property of a place where or way in which something is situated
    spatial relation.
    • the position of the hands on the clock
    • he specified the spatial relations of every piece of furniture on the stage
  8. noun the appropriate or customary location
    • the cars were in position
  9. noun (in team sports) the role assigned to an individual player
    • what position does he play?
  10. noun the act of putting something in a certain place
    emplacement; placement; positioning; location; locating.
  11. noun a condition or position in which you find yourself
    situation.
    • the unpleasant situation (or position) of having to choose between two evils
    • found herself in a very fortunate situation
  12. noun a rationalized mental attitude
    stance; posture.
  13. noun an opinion that is held in opposition to another in an argument or dispute
    side.
    • there are two sides to every question
  14. noun an item on a list or in a sequence
    place.
    • in the second place
    • moved from third to fifth position
  15. noun the post or function properly or customarily occupied or served by another
    stead; place; lieu.
    • can you go in my stead?
    • took his place
    • in lieu of
  16. noun the act of positing; an assumption taken as a postulate or axiom
  17. verb cause to be in an appropriate place, state, or relation
  18. verb put into a certain place or abstract location
    set; pose; place; lay; put.
    • Put your things here
    • Set the tray down
    • Set the dogs on the scent of the missing children
    • Place emphasis on a certain point

WordNet

Po*si"tion noun
Etymology
F. position, L. positio, fr. ponere, positum, to put, place; prob. for posino, fr. an old preposition used only in comp. (akin to Gr. ) + sinere to leave, let, permit, place. See Site, and cf. Composite, Compound, v., Depone, Deposit, Expound, Impostor, Opposite, Propound, Pose, v., Posit, Post, n.
Definitions
  1. The state of being posited, or placed; the manner in which anything is placed; attitude; condition; as, a firm, an inclined, or an upright position.
    We have different prospects of the same thing, according to our different positions to it. Locke.
  2. The spot where a person or thing is placed or takes a place; site; place; station; situation; as, the position of man in creation; the fleet changed its position.
  3. Hence: The ground which any one takes in an argument or controversy; the point of view from which any one proceeds to a discussion; also, a principle laid down as the basis of reasoning; a proposition; a thesis; as, to define one's position; to appear in a false position.
    Let not the proof of any position depend on the positions that follow, but always on those which go before. I. Watts.
  4. Relative place or standing; social or official rank; as, a person of position; hence, office; post; as, to lose one's position.
  5. (Arith.) A method of solving a problem by one or two suppositions; -- called also the rule of trial and error. Syn. -- Situation; station; place; condition; attitude; posture; proposition; assertion; thesis.
Po*si"tion transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To indicate the position of; to place. R. Encyc. Brit.

Webster 1913