26984 words

negatives

33 definitions • 44 examples
1
expressing "no":

Examples:

2
A negative sentence or phrase is one that contains a word such as "not", "no", "never", or "nothing":

Examples:

"I've never seen him in my life" is a negative sentence.
"Don't" and "do not" are negative forms of "do".
3
not expecting good things, or likely to consider only the bad side of a situation:

Examples:

You're so negative about everything!
4
bad or harmful:

Examples:

The warm winter has had a very negative effect/impact on the ski industry.
5
of the type of electrical charge that is carried by electrons
6
(of a test) showing that an illness, condition, drug, chemical, etc. is not present :

Examples:

The results of his HIV test were negative.
Any urine test result that is negative for methadone should be discussed with the patient immediately.
7
(of a person or thing) having had a negative test result for something:

Examples:

We each took a Covid test - I was positive but my husband was negative.
Her urine was negative for protein.
Two children were not allowed into school even though they tested negative for the virus.
8
(of a number or amount) less than zero:

Examples:

9
not having the rhesus factor in the blood:

Examples:

Her blood type is O negative.
10
A negative image is one in which the dark areas of what is being photographed are light and the light areas of what is being photographed are dark:

Examples:

A very early method of photography used paper sensitized with silver iodide to produce a negative image.
11
an image in which dark areas of what is being photographed appear light and light areas of what is being photographed appear dark, the opposite to a normal image:

Examples:

black-and-white/colour negatives
I've borrowed the negatives of her wedding photos so I can get some pictures printed.
12
a word or statement that expresses "no":

Examples:

I didn't hear your answer, Ed - was that a negative?
I'm afraid the reply was definitely in the negative (= was "no").
13

Examples:

He always looks for the negatives in any situation.
14
a result of a scientific test that shows that something does not exist or is not present:

Examples:

Of the 1,000 tested, the most likely outcome is that 989 will get a true negative, one a true positive and 10 a false positive.
15
to answer no to a question or request:

Examples:

Her request was politely and earnestly negatived.
He shook his head - not in negativing the question, but in negativing the notion that he should be expected to answer it at all.
16
to refuse to allow something:

Examples:

One of the gentlemen proposed that I join them, but his wife instantly negatived the notion.
I am aware that this motion will be negatived.
17
to show that something is not true:

Examples:

In criminal proceedings the burden of negativing self-defence was on the prosecution, whereas in civil proceedings the burden was on the defendant.
Do you think that science negatives the idea of a personal god as taught by Jesus Christ?
18
to cause something to have no effect:

Examples:

19
expressing no or not, or expressing refusal:

Examples:

20
A negative sentence or phrase is one that contains a word such as no, not, nor, never, or nothing.
21
A medical test that is negative shows that you do not have that disease or condition.
22
not happy, hopeful, or approving; tending to consider only bad things:

Examples:

All the candidates in the mayoral campaign ran negative ads (= advertising saying bad things about each other).
23
(of a number or amount) less than zero:

Examples:

25
of the type of electrical charge that an electron has
26
a piece of film in which light areas appear dark and dark areas appear light, the opposite of how they will appear in the photograph made from it
27
a word, phrase, or statement that expresses no or not, or that expresses refusal:

Examples:

[ U ] The governor replied in the negative (= The governor said no).
29
expressing 'no':

Examples:

30
emphasizing the bad possibilities in a situation:

Examples:

be negative about sth Small and medium-size businesses were more negative about the economy than last year.
31
less than zero:

Examples:

Employment growth was negative for manufacturing over the past year.
Medical bills strained the budget, and before long their checking account had a negative balance.
32
a bad characteristic, piece of news, etc.:

Examples:

Traders see few negatives, saying hi-tech and telecoms shares will continue their rise.
33
to give an answer of 'no':

Examples:

Issuers that do not have a CUSIP number should answer Question 8 in the negative.

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