1 live
/ˈlɪv/
verb
lives;
lived;
living
1 live
/ˈlɪv/
verb
lives;
lived;
living
Britannica Dictionary definition of LIVE
1
[no object]
a
:
to be alive
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We learned about the people who lived during colonial times.
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I wonder what it was like to live then.
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She's one of the greatest writers who ever lived.
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It was one of the largest animals that has ever lived.
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b
:
to continue to be alive
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He lived to the age of 92.
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He's very sick and he may not live much longer.
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I hope to live (long enough) to see my grandchildren grow up.
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I hope I live to see the day when you admit you've been wrong about me!
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I'll remember that day for as long as I live.
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She's living on borrowed time. [=she is continuing to live after she was expected to die, but she will probably die soon]
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Long live the Queen/King! [=may the Queen/King live for many years]
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2
[no object]
a
:
to have a home in a specified place
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He lives next door to his parents.
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We lived in the city/suburbs/country.
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I live on Main St. [=my house is on Main St.]
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It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there.
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He's still living at home (with his parents).
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animals living in zoos
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b
of a plant or animal
:
to grow naturally in a specified place or area
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Tigers don't live in Africa. [=there are no tigers in the wild in Africa]
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We've been studying the plants and animals that live in this area.
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3
:
to spend your life in a certain way or condition
[no object]
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They live well/simply.
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He likes to live dangerously.
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They lived peacefully for many years.
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animals living in captivity
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We know very little about how people in these ancient cultures lived.
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They all lived happily ever after. [=they all lived happily for the rest of their lives]
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He is living within/beyond his means. [=he can/cannot afford the things that he buys or the way he lives]
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[+ object]
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If she believes that, she's living a fantasy. [=she is not seeing or accepting reality]
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They are living the American Dream. [=they are experiencing success in America]
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4
[no object]
:
to have an enjoyable and exciting life
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Now that he's retired he just wants to live a little. [=to spend time doing enjoyable things]
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You haven't lived until you've had a piece of my mom's apple pie! [=you would greatly enjoy my mom's apple pie]
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5
[+ object]
a
:
to spend (your life or part of your life) in a specified way
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They lived (the rest of) their lives in quiet retirement.
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He had lived a childhood free from worry.
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She lived her final years in seclusion.
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He lived life to the full/fullest. [=he fully enjoyed his life]
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b
:
to have (a particular kind of life)
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She wants to live [=lead] a more productive life.
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They live a normal life.
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They are living a life of luxury.
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He made a lot of money in the stock market and he's been living the good life [=living the life of a wealthy person] ever since.
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6
[no object]
:
to continue to exist
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The good that people do lives long after they are gone.
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That day will always live in my memory. [=I will always remember that day]
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7
[no object]
chiefly British, informal
:
to belong in a specified place
:
to be located or stored
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“Where does this book live?” “It goes/belongs on the top shelf.”
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live a lie
— see 4lie
live and breathe
— see breathe
live and learn
informal
or
you live and (you) learn
— used to say that you have learned something from an experience that is surprising and usually unpleasant
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I thought I could trust him, but I couldn't. Oh well, you live and learn.
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live and let live
:
to let others live the way they want to
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His philosophy was to live and let live.
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live by
[phrasal verb]
1
live by (something)
:
to agree with and follow (something, such as a set of beliefs)
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He tried to live by his faith.
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a principle I try to live by
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2
a
live by (doing something)
:
to survive by (doing something)
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They were an ancient people who lived by hunting and gathering.
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b
live by your wits
:
to survive by doing clever and sometimes dishonest things
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Out in the jungle, with no food or shelter, he had to live by his wits.
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a young thief who lives by her wits
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live down
[phrasal verb]
live down (something)
or
live (something) down
:
to stop being blamed or laughed at for (something, such as a foolish or embarrassing error)
-
He has a very bad reputation to live down.
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— often used in negative statements
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I can't believe I forgot my wife's birthday! I'll never live this down.
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live for
[phrasal verb]
1
live for (something)
:
to wait or hope for (something) very eagerly
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I live for the day when we'll be together!
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2
:
to think of (something) as the most important or enjoyable part of your life
-
She lives for her work.
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:
to think of (something) as a reason for being alive
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He's depressed and feels as if he has nothing left to live for.
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live in
[phrasal verb]
chiefly British
:
to live in the place where you work
:
to live in another person's home
-
a maid who lives in
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live in hope
— see 2hope
live in sin
old-fashioned
:
to live together and have sex without being married
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His mother did not want him living in sin with his girlfriend.
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live in the past
:
to think too much about something that happened in the past
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You have to accept that he's gone and stop living in the past.
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live it up
informal
:
to do exciting and enjoyable things
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He's been living it up out in California with his friends.
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live large
US slang
:
to live like a very wealthy and successful person
-
a star who is living large
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live off
[phrasal verb]
live off (something or someone)
:
to use (someone or something) as a source of the money or other things you need to live
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He has been living off his inheritance.
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He has been living off his girlfriend. [=his girlfriend has been supporting him financially]
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farmers who live off the land
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live on
[phrasal verb]
1
:
to continue to exist
-
His legend lives on.
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2
live on (something)
a
:
to have or use (an amount of money) to pay for the things that you need to live
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You can't live on this salary. [=this salary does not provide enough money for food, shelter, etc.]
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b
:
to have (a particular food) as the only or main food that you eat
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They lived mainly/mostly on fruits and berries.
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live out
[phrasal verb]
1
British
:
to live away from the place where you work
-
a servant who lives out
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2
live out (something)
or
live (something) out
a
:
to spend the rest of (your life) in a specified way
-
He lived out (the final years of) his life in quiet retirement.
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b
:
to do (the things you have dreamed of doing)
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He has finally had the chance to live out his dreams/fantasies.
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live through
[phrasal verb]
1
live through (something)
:
to survive (an experience, a troubling time, etc.)
:
endure
-
If I can live through this, I can live through anything.
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2
live through (someone)
US, sometimes disapproving
:
to enjoy the experiences and achievements of (another person) instead of your own experiences and achievements
-
She can't live through her daughter.
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live together
[phrasal verb]
:
to live with another person and have sex without being married
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They lived together for several months before getting married.
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live up to
[phrasal verb]
1
live up to (something)
:
to do what is required by (something)
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She lived up to her promises. [=she kept her promises]
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2
:
to be good enough for (something)
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He has found it difficult to live up to his name/reputation. [=to be as good/successful as people think he is or should be]
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Their vacation didn't live up to their expectations. [=their vacation wasn't as good as they expected it to be]
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live with
[phrasal verb]
1
live with (something)
:
to accept and deal with (something unpleasant)
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You have to learn to live with [=put up with] other people's mistakes.
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I don't agree with his decision, but I'll have to live with it.
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Until we get a better answer, we will have to live with not knowing for sure.
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Because there was no cure, he had to learn to live with the disease.
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2
live with (someone)
:
to live together and usually have sex with (someone)
-
She's been living with him since college.
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2 live
/ˈlaɪv/
adjective
2 live
/ˈlaɪv/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of LIVE
1
a
always used before a noun
:
having life
:
living or alive
-
They object to the use of live animals in scientific experiments.
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a live birth [=a birth of a living child or animal]
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b
informal
:
not imaginary
:
actually existing
— used in the phrase real live
-
Everyone was excited about seeing a real live celebrity. [=an actual celebrity]
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2
a
:
done in front of an audience
:
of or involving a play, concert, etc., that is performed in front of people
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a nightclub with live music/entertainment
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The group has just released a live album. [=an album made by recording a performance before an audience]
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b
:
watching a performance as it happens
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a television program filmed before a live (studio) audience
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c
:
broadcast while a performance, event, etc., is happening
:
not recorded earlier
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a live television/radio program
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She was nervous about being interviewed on live radio.
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The network is providing live coverage of the debate.
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3
:
carrying an electric current
:
connected to electric power
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Use caution when you are working near live electrical wires.
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a live microphone
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— see also live wire
4
always used before a noun
a
:
carrying a charge and capable of exploding or being shot
-
a live bomb
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live ammunition
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We had thought the guns were loaded with blanks, but the soldiers were actually shooting live bullets.
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b
:
burning without a flame
:
glowing
-
live coals
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5
:
not yet decided or settled
:
still causing discussion, disagreement, or concern
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a live issue
-
a live controversy
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6
US, sports
:
still in play
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The ball is live until it goes out of bounds.
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7
British, of yogurt
:
containing living bacteria
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We sell live yogurt.
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3 live
/ˈlaɪv/
adverb
3 live
/ˈlaɪv/
adverb
Britannica Dictionary definition of LIVE
:
during, from, or at the actual time that something (such as a performance or event) happens
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The program was shown live.
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We are broadcasting live from downtown.
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Here he is—live in concert!
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The album was recorded live.
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go live
:
to begin operating or to become available for use
-
Our new Web site will be going live next month.
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