positions
positions — verb
- positionspresent simple I / you / we / they
- positionses3rd person singular
- positionsing-ing form
- positionsedpast simple
1. if someone positions a person or thing, they place it where it needs to be.
if someone positions a person or thing, they place it where it needs to be.
Before the photo, Gabriela positions the lamp behind the blue chair.
position + object + place phrase
At every checkup, the nurse positions the baby on a soft mat.
common in medical or care routines
The coach positions Caleb near the sideline for the final pass.
During repairs, the worker positions a fan above the wet floor.
文法句型
position + person/thing + place phrase
position + person/thing + for + purpose
用法筆記
Usually appears in formal instructions, design, sport, or care contexts where exact placement matters. It normally takes a direct object plus a phrase showing the intended spot.
常見錯誤
positions — noun
- positionssingular
- positionsesplural
1. the places where people or things are, often explained by what is around them.
the places where people or things are, often explained by what is around them.
The app showed our positions on the trail after the fog lifted.
positions on a route or map
Please mark the chairs' positions before the cleaners move them again.
mark positions before moving objects
From the balcony, Roya checked the boats' positions near the pier.
The teacher changed the paintings' positions to balance the gallery wall.
文法句型
mark positions
check positions on a map
change positions
用法筆記
Often used when several people or objects each have their own exact spot. Distinguish this sense from sense 8, which is about the overall arrangement pattern rather than each separate location.
常見錯誤
2. the playing roles or field areas that players are given in a team game.
the playing roles or field areas that players are given in a team game.
Coach Asher switched the twins' positions before the second half began.
switch positions during a game
The chart shows the players' positions for Saturday's volleyball match.
players' positions on a team chart
Young defenders often learn several positions during their first season.
In futsal, quick passing can blur positions for a few seconds.
文法句型
switch positions
learn positions
players' positions
用法筆記
Used in team sports for the role or area a player normally covers. It often appears with verbs like switch, learn, or play, and with diagrams showing where players line up.
常見錯誤
3. the places where soldiers or similar groups are sent to carry out an action.
the places where soldiers or similar groups are sent to carry out an action.
At dawn, scouts reported enemy positions along the narrow riverbank.
enemy positions in military reports
The map marked our positions before the rescue teams moved inland.
The soldiers left their positions when the bridge finally collapsed.
From the ridge, Tendai could see two hidden gun positions.
文法句型
enemy positions
hold positions
leave positions
用法筆記
Mostly used in military or rescue operations and often modified by words like enemy, hidden, or forward. Distinguish it from sense 1, which is the general meaning of physical location.
常見錯誤
4. the situations that people or groups find themselves in at a particular time.
the situations that people or groups find themselves in at a particular time.
After the storm, shop owners were in impossible positions all week.
be in difficult positions
New managers often find themselves in difficult positions on busy weekends.
The sudden delay put both teams in awkward positions with customers.
Refugees can end up in desperate positions after losing their papers.
- situations
the closest general alternative in everyday English
- circumstances
broader and a little more formal
- predicaments
stronger and usually for difficult situations
文法句型
be in difficult positions
put someone in positions
end up in positions
用法筆記
Most common with adjectives such as difficult, awkward, impossible, or desperate. Distinguish from sense 5, which is followed by to + verb and focuses on having enough power or resources to act.
常見錯誤
5. situations where people have the power, knowledge, or money needed to do somethi
situations where people have the power, knowledge, or money needed to do something.
Only senior nurses are in positions to approve emergency overtime.
be in positions to + verb
After the grant arrived, several schools were in positions to hire counsellors.
Few renters are in positions to buy city apartments this year.
By noon, both doctors were in positions to speak with reporters.
- be able to
more general and less formal
- have the means to
stresses money or other resources
- be qualified to
stresses skill, authority, or right
- be unable to
shows lack of ability or permission
文法句型
be in positions to help
be in positions to approve
be in positions to buy
用法筆記
This sense normally appears with the pattern be in positions to + verb and is used when several people or groups each have the ability, authority, or resources to act. Distinguish it from sense 4, which does not require an infinitive after the noun.
常見錯誤
6. levels of rank, importance, or success compared with other people or groups.
levels of rank, importance, or success compared with other people or groups.
After the final lap, the runners changed positions twice.
positions in a race result
These jobs once gave women stronger positions in village life.
The rankings show which schools hold the top positions this year.
During the merger, several directors lost positions of influence.
文法句型
top positions
lose positions
positions of power
用法筆記
Can describe social standing, power inside an organization, or place in a race or list. Distinguish it from sense 7, which names the jobs themselves rather than rank or standing.
常見錯誤
7. jobs in a company or other organization, especially ones someone has or can appl
jobs in a company or other organization, especially ones someone has or can apply for.
The hospital posted three nursing positions on its website yesterday.
posted positions for hiring
Apinya applied for two teaching positions in Hualien last month.
apply for positions
Only temporary positions were available after the shop reopened.
The company filled both positions before the summer internship fair.
文法句型
apply for positions
fill positions
open positions
用法筆記
Often used for vacancies or formal job titles inside organizations. Common verbs are apply for, advertise, fill, and hold.
常見錯誤
8. the ways in which parts of something are arranged or set out.
the ways in which parts of something are arranged or set out.
The designer compared three logo positions on the welcome screen.
positions in a visual layout
One wrong digit in those positions changed the locker code completely.
positions of numbers in a code
The editor moved the photos because their positions blocked the headline.
On the shelf map, the spice jars have fixed positions.
- layouts
especially common for pages, rooms, maps, and screens
- arrangements
broader and less tied to visual design
- orders
stresses sequence more than visual placement
文法句型
logo positions
positions on a page
fixed positions
用法筆記
Used for the arrangement of parts on a page, screen, shelf, code, or other system. Sense 1 is about where separate people or objects are, while this sense focuses on the pattern or layout as a whole.
9. the ways people's bodies are arranged when they are sitting, standing, or lying.
the ways people's bodies are arranged when they are sitting, standing, or lying.
The therapist showed Sofia two sleeping positions for her sore shoulder.
sleeping positions for comfort
During yoga, Christopher held the same arm positions for a minute.
The poster explains safe lifting positions for warehouse workers.
Babies often roll into strange positions while they nap.
文法句型
sleeping positions
lifting positions
arm positions
用法筆記
Usually appears with words like sleeping, sitting, lifting, or arm. Distinguish this sense from sense 11, which is about how to place tools, parts, or body parts correctly during a task.
10. the views that people or groups hold about an issue or argument.
the views that people or groups hold about an issue or argument.
Both parties softened their positions on housing taxes by Friday.
positions on + topic
The article compares the candidates' positions on public transport.
compare positions on an issue
At the meeting, union members defended their positions calmly.
Voters wanted clearer positions from the mayoral teams.
文法句型
positions on + topic
defend positions
soften positions
用法筆記
Common in formal discussion and often followed by on before the topic. It usually suggests settled or public views rather than quick personal thoughts.
常見錯誤
11. the ways of placing body parts, tools, or equipment correctly for an action or t
the ways of placing body parts, tools, or equipment correctly for an action or task.
The piano book teaches finger positions for smooth scales.
finger positions for a task
The parking guide shows wheel positions for steep streets.
wheel positions in a driving guide
Ritu practised the starting positions before the relay drill.
The first-aid chart marks hand positions for chest compressions.
- placements
the closest general word for how something is put somewhere
- setups
more informal and often for equipment or planned arrangements
- arrangements
broader and less focused on correct technique
文法句型
hand positions
finger positions
wheel positions
用法筆記
This sense is common in lessons, manuals, and training where someone needs to place hands, feet, wheels, or tools correctly to perform an action. Distinguish it from sense 9, which is about body posture more generally.