Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Topic: ARMY

Date: 1300-1400
Language: French
Origin: Latin positio, from positus, past participle of ponere 'to put'

position

1 noun
     
po‧si‧tion1 S3 W1
1

way of standing/sitting etc

[countable] the way someone is standing, sitting, or lying:
Frankie shifted his position so that his knees would not become cramped.
sitting/kneeling/standing position
I struggled up into a sitting position.
2

situation

[countable usually singular] the situation that someone is in, especially when this affects what they can and cannot doCOLLOCATIONS COLLOCATIONS
in somebody's position in the same/a similar position in a good/strong position (to do something) in an enviable position (=in a situation that other people would like to be in) in a difficult/awkward/impossible position a position of strength (=a situation in which you can get what you want) financial/legal position strengthen/weaken somebody's position (=put someone in a better or worse situation)
I'm not sure what I would do if I were in your position.
We're in a strong position, but we mustn't take victory for granted.
Next week we will be in a much better position to comment.
She is in the enviable position of having three job offers.
You're putting me in rather a difficult position.
We must negotiate from a position of strength .
the company's precarious financial position
3

place where somebody/something is

[countable] the place where someone or something is, especially in relation to other objects and places
position of
the position of the sun in the sky
Our hotel was in a superb central position near St Mark's Square.
the strategic position (=useful or important position) of Egypt in relation to the Arabian peninsula
4

correct place

[uncountable and countable] the place where someone or something is needed or supposed to be
into position
He pulled the ladder into position.
in/out of position
All parking signs have now been placed in position.
5

direction

[countable] the direction in which an object is pointing
vertical/upright/horizontal position
Make sure the container remains in an upright position.
She turned the switch to the 'on' position.
6

opinion

[countable] an opinion or judgment on a particular subject, especially the official opinion of a government, a political party, or someone in authority [= attitude]
position on
What's the party's position on tax reform?
The principal took the position that the students didn't need music classes.
I hope you'll reconsider your position.
7

job

[countable] formal a job
somebody's position as something
Bill took up his new position as Works Director in October.
position of
She has held the position of Chief Financial Officer since 1992.
Bruce is thinking of applying for the position.
I'm sorry, the position has been filled (=someone has been found to do the job).
➔ see usage note job
8

level/rank

[uncountable and countable] someone's or something's level, authority, or importance in a society or organization
the position of somebody
the position of women in society
position of power/authority/influence etc
Many of his supporters used their positions of power for personal advantage.
As a priest, he was in a position of trust.
abuse your position as something (=use your authority wrongly)
9

be in a position to do something

to be able to do something because you have the ability, money, or power to do it:
When I know all the facts, I'll be in a position to advise you.
10

be in no position to do something

to be unable to do something because you do not have the ability, money, or power to do it:
You're unemployed and in no position to support a family.
Ned says I'm always late? He's in no position to talk (=should not criticize because he does the same thing).
11

race/competition

[uncountable and countable]DS the place of someone or something in a race or competition in relation to the other people or things
(in) 2nd/3rd/4th etc position
Alesi finished in third position.
12

sports

[countable]DS the area where someone plays in a sport, or the type of actions they are responsible for doing:
What position do you play?
13

jockey/manoeuvre/jostle for position

to try to get an advantage over other people who are all trying to succeed in doing the same thing:
Firms adopt different strategies as they jockey for position.
14

army

[countable usually plural]PMA a place where an army has put soldiers, guns etc:
an attack on the enemy positions
WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:

position, place, location, where, therePlace is a very general word for talking about where something or someone is • the place where they live • Put this in a safe place.Position can be used to talk about the place where something is in relation to other things or places • the position of the table in the roomLocation is used mainly in formal or business English to talk about where a building is • a house in a central location • the location of the new headquarters In ordinary spoken English, it is more usual to use words like where, there, somewhere, anywhere to talk about the place where something or someone is • This is where (NOT the place where) I live. • My shoes were in the hall but they're not there (NOT in that place) now. • Let's have lunch somewhere different (NOT in a different place) today.WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE:

job, work, post, position, occupation, profession, careerYour job is the work that you do regularly in order to earn money, especially when you work for a company or public organization • My last job was with a computer firm. • He finally got a job in a supermarket.Work is used in a more general way to talk about activities that you do to earn money, either working for a company or for yourself • Will you go back to work when you've had the baby? • I started work when I was 18.!! Do not say 'what is your job?' or 'what is your work?'. Say what do you do? or what do you do for a living?Post and position are more formal words for a job in a company or organization. They are used especially in job advertisements and when you are talking about someone moving to a different job • This post would suit a recent graduate. • He left last summer for a teaching position in Singapore.Use occupation to talk about the kind of work that someone usually does, for example if they are a teacher, lawyer, driving instructor etc. Occupation is used mainly on official forms • State your name, age, and occupation in the box below.!! Do not use occupation to talk about your own job • I am an accountant. (NOT My occupation is an accountant).A profession is a kind of work for which you need special training and a good education, for example teaching, law, or medicine • the legal professionYour career is the type of work that you do or hope to do for most of your life • I'm interested in a career in television. • His career is more important to him than his family. ➔ See also job
Definition of position from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English within
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