live

Meaning

Verb

1. (intransitive) To be alive; to have life.
2. (intransitive) To have permanent residence somewhere, to inhabit, to reside.
3. (informal, intransitive) To have permanent residence somewhere, to inhabit, to reside.
4. (intransitive) To survive; to persevere; to continue.
5. (intransitive) To endure in memory; to escape oblivion.
6. (excessive, intransitive) To cope.
7. (intransitive) To pass life in a specified manner.
8. (transitive) To spend, as one's life; to pass; to maintain; to continue in, constantly or habitually.
9. (transitive) To act habitually in conformity with; to practice; to exemplify in one's way of life.
10. (obsolete, transitive) To live as; to live being.
11. (intransitive) To outlast danger; (of a ship or boat) to float.
12. (intransitive) To maintain or support one's existence; to provide for oneself; to feed; to subsist.
13. (informal, intransitive) To make the most of life; to experience a full, rich life.

Adj

1. (attributive) Having life; that is alive.
2. Being in existence; actual.
3. Having active properties; being energized.
4. Operational; in actual use rather than in testing etc.
5. Operational; in actual use rather than in testing etc.
6. Taken from a living animal.
7. Imparting power; having motion.
8. Still in active play.
9. Of a card: not yet dealt or played.
10. Being broadcast ("on the air"), as it happens.
11. In person.
12. Recorded from a performance in front of an audience.
13. Able to fire or explode (of firearms or explosives).
14. Of an environment where sound is recorded: having noticeable reverberation.
15. Electrically charged or energized, usually indicating that the item may cause electrocution if touched.
16. Being a bet which can be raised by the bettor, usually in reference to a blind or straddle.
17. Featuring humans; not animated, in the phrases “live actors” or “live action”.
18. Being in a state of ignition; burning.
19. (obsolete) Vivid; bright.
20. (dated, slang) Energetic, attentive, active.
21. (slang) Outstanding, top-notch, exhilarating.
22. Of a syllable in languages such as Thai and Burmese: resonating, not ending abruptly.

Adv

1. Of an event, as it happens; in real time; direct.
2. Of making a performance or speech, in person.

Opposite of

dead

Synonyms

dwell

alive

reside

exist

stay

living

be alive

inhabit

survive

be

remain

lodge

subsist

abide

life

make a living

support oneself

lively

sit

🪑

unrecorded

occupy

lead

settle

get along

experience

vivid

last

breathe

earn one’s livelihood

move around

remain alive

wander

active

animate

roam

endure

populate

live on

continue

keep

know

room

burning

have life

springy

resilient

revive

bouncy

stop

🛑

associate

Translations

vivre

vivir

habiter

leben

wohnen

vivere

abitare

viver

wonen

ζω

habitar

loger

demeurer

morar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/lɪv/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: lyven

Inherited from Old English: lifian

Cognate with Saterland Frisian: líeuwje

Cognate with Western Frisian: libje

Cognate with Dutch: leven

Cognate with German: leben

Cognate with Swedish: leva

Cognate with Icelandic: lifa

Cognate with Gothic: 𐌻𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽

In summary

From Middle English lyven, libben, from Old English lifian, libban (“to live; be alive”), from Proto-West Germanic *libbjan, from Proto-Germanic *libjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *leyp- (“leave, cling, linger”).
Cognate with Saterland Frisian líeuwje (“to live”), West Frisian libje (“to live”), Dutch leven (“to live”), German Low German leven, lęven (“to live”), German leben (“to live”), Swedish leva (“to live”), Icelandic lifa (“to live”), Gothic 𐌻𐌹𐌱𐌰𐌽 (liban, “to live”).

Sentences

Long live the king !

It’s an incredible live performance on his part .

Elizabeth tells the angry crowd to let Abigail live .

The band was very active with live performances in and outside their native country .

I was wondering if you could tell me a bit more about what it's like to live and work there .

The original live concert was mixed by Peter Sinfield.