positively
/ˈpɒzətɪvli
/adverb
1In a positive way, in particular:Camp and school partnerships have the potential to positively influence participating students and staff, the schools they come from, and the families to which they return....
- Without a real person to positively bond with, children will choose, as a default option, either a fictional character or someone they'll never meet, like a celebrity or a religious figure.
- Pulse is open to anyone who can prove their ability and dedication to filmmaking, and teams of writers, directors and producers, in particular, are positively encouraged.
1.1With certainty: experts could not positively identify the voices...
- As noted earlier, only an expert can positively identify a substance as biological growth and lab analysis may be required for final confirmation.
- Experts are still working to identify positively the sources of the outbreaks.
- The very latest technology involves ‘facial recognition’ - a system that can positively identify a suspect instantly simply from his or her face.
1.2 [as submodifier] Used to emphasize that something is the case, even though it may seem surprising: some of the diets may be positively dangerous...
- Many of those places are positively dangerous and it is surprising that there have not been clamours to have them made safer by the removal of parked vehicles.
- The bustle and diversity of the crowd was positively Prom-like, which surprised me as a newcomer to the series (unsure when the coffee would be served).
- I am positively surprised how well this really worked out.
Synonyms
emphatically, confidently, firmly, categorically, definitely, with certainty, conclusively, without qualification, certainly, beyond question, unquestionably, undoubtedly, indisputably, unmistakably, indubitably, assuredly
absolutely, really, downright, simply, thoroughly, completely, utterly, totally, perfectly, extremely, to a marked degree, decidedly, fairly
informal plain, plumb