verb

live

LIHV

verb

To be alive; to have life.

"Some tortoises live for over 150 years."

"Doctors said the patient would live, against the odds."

To reside somewhere; to make one's home in a place.

"They live in a small flat near the station."

"She has lived in three different countries."

To spend one's life in a particular way, or to experience life fully.

"He lives simply, with few possessions."

"They wanted to travel and really live before settling down."

adj

Alive, or currently active/in use (as opposed to recorded, tested, or switched off).

"Careful — that wire is live."

"The new website is now live."

Broadcast or performed in real time, in front of an audience, rather than pre-recorded.

"The band played a live set on the radio."

"It's a live broadcast, so anything could go wrong."

How to Use Live

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBeing alive, residing somewhere, or (as an adjective) currently active/happening in real time.

Common mistake

The verb "live" (rhymes with "give") and the adjective "live" (rhymes with "hive") are spelled the same but pronounced differently — context tells you which one is meant.

Common pairings

live in live with live a life go live live broadcast

Word Forms

more live comparative, more live comparative, lived past tense, lives singular, most live superlative, most live superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Some tortoises _____ for over 150 years.

Etymology

From Old English libban/lifian, "to live, be alive," a very old Germanic word related to leben in German and leven in Dutch.

Synonyms

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dwell last remain alive

Antonyms

dead blank dummy neutral recorded prerecorded broadcast animated

Related Words

last kill broadcast dwell fly leave stay dead

Rhymes for live

Ive five give dive hive jive vive olive drive alive waive naive

See all rhymes for live →

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dwell last remain alive dead blank dummy neutral recorded prerecorded broadcast animated