Meaning & use
neutral position
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Meanings
nouncountabletechnical
the setting in which a gear or control is not engaged and no power is being sent to the wheels or machine.
Grammar: Countable; usually with the or a: put the lever in the neutral position.
Patterns
- put something in the neutral position
- return something to the neutral position
- leave something in the neutral position
Always return the gear lever to the neutral position before starting the engine.
The pilot moved the controls back to the neutral position.
Leave the switch in the neutral position when the machine is not in use.
nouncountablemedical
the natural resting posture of a body part, with the muscles relaxed and no strain.
Grammar: Countable and common in medical or fitness advice.
Patterns
- keep something in a neutral position
- hold something in the neutral position
Keep your wrist in a neutral position while typing.
The physiotherapist showed her how to hold her spine in a neutral position.
Sleeping with your neck in a neutral position can reduce morning pain.
nouncountable
a position in which you support neither side in an argument or conflict.
Grammar: Countable; often with take or adopt.
Patterns
- take a neutral position on something
- adopt a neutral position
The newspaper took a neutral position on the election.
Switzerland adopted a neutral position during the war.
She tried to keep a neutral position in the family dispute.
Word forms
| plural | neutral positions |
|---|
Common combinations
- return to the neutral position
- Release the handle and it will return to the neutral position.
- in the neutral position
- Make sure the lever is in the neutral position.
- a neutral position on an issue
- The committee took a neutral position on the proposal.
- keep your wrist in a neutral position
- Keep your wrist in a neutral position to avoid strain.
Synonyms and how they differ
- rest position
- Describes a relaxed resting state of a body part or machine; it does not usually suggest gears or taking no side in a dispute.
- impartial stance
- Used only for the 'taking no side' sense and sounds more formal than neutral position.
Opposites
Word family
- neutral adjective
- not supporting either side, or not active or engaged.
- neutrality noun
- the state of not supporting either side in a conflict.
- neutrally adverb
- in a way that supports neither side.
Commonly confused: neutral position or natural position?
neutral position vs natural position
Natural position means the way something normally sits; neutral position specifically means no force or gear is engaged.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'neutral position' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The fixed pattern is 'in the neutral position'. 'On' is used for surfaces, and 'to' would need a verb of movement like 'return to', while 'at' does not fit this phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “neutral position”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.