# positioned

/pəˈzɪʃənd/ (US) · /pəzˈɪʃənd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/positioned
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to put in a place

verb · CEFR B1

to put something or someone in a specific spot.

For teachers: to place or arrange something in a particular physical location. Transitive — requires an object.

- The guards were positioned at every entrance to the building.
- The technicians positioned the telescope on the highest ridge to ensure the lens remained unobstructed by the surrounding forest canopy.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice to describe where something is located.

### 2. strategic preparation

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

to put yourself or a company in a good situation to succeed.

For teachers: to arrange or promote something so that it has a particular advantage or reputation. Often used reflexively or in the passive voice.

- The company positioned itself as a leader in green energy.
- By investing heavily in research and development, the firm positioned itself to dominate the emerging market for sustainable aviation fuels.

Usage: Commonly used with 'itself' or 'themselves' followed by 'as'.

### 3. being in a spot

adjective · CEFR B2

being in a specific place or situation.

For teachers: occupying a particular place or having a specific status. Usually used after a linking verb.

- The house is perfectly positioned to get the afternoon sun.
- The retail unit is ideally positioned within the shopping centre, benefiting from the high footfall generated by the nearby anchor stores.

## Examples

- She positioned the chairs around the table for the meeting.
- The company positioned its new smartphone as a luxury item to justify the higher price point.
- By carefully selecting her words during the interview, the candidate positioned herself as a forward-thinking leader capable of navigating the upcoming merger.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.