in the affirmative
in the affirmative — idiom
1. in a way that expresses agreement or says 'yes'; used after verbs like answer, r
in a way that expresses agreement or says 'yes'; used after verbs like answer, reply, vote, or nod, especially in formal or official settings such as meetings, legal proceedings, or diplomatic exchanges.
The committee voted in the affirmative on the new safety rules.
verb + in the affirmative — pattern with 'vote'
When the judge asked if she agreed, Ms. Torres replied in the affirmative.
All board members answered in the affirmative when asked about the merger proposal.
The ambassador nodded in the affirmative as the terms of the agreement were read aloud.
Of the twenty shareholders present, fifteen voted in the affirmative and five voted against.
- yes
neutral in register; used in everyday conversation, not limited to formal contexts
- favourably
similar formal register but broader in meaning (can mean 'with approval' rather than specifically 'yes')
- agreeably
has a similar formal tone but focuses on willingness or pleasantness rather than a direct yes/no response
- in the negative
direct opposite; identical structure and register, used in the same formal contexts
文法句型
verb + in the affirmative
用法筆記
This fixed phrase belongs to formal registers such as legal proceedings, board meetings, official correspondence, and parliamentary procedures. In everyday speech, native speakers prefer simpler alternatives like 'say yes' or 'agree'. The most common verb partners are answer, reply, respond, vote, and nod. Unlike a single-word adverb, the phrase must follow the verb — it cannot begin the sentence.