live
live
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "live" depends on its part of speech:
Verb (to live): /lɪv/
/lɪv/
Adjective/Adverb (alive, broadcast in real-time): /laɪv/
/laɪv/
Word Form Variations
Verb: live (base form), lives (third person singular present), living (present participle), lived (past simple, past participle)
Adjective: live (no comparative/superlative forms for most senses, though "livelier" and "liveliest" exist for the related "lively")
Adverb: live (no comparative/superlative forms)
Noun: lives (plural of "life", which is related to the verb "live") - Note: The noun "live" itself is rare, usually in specific contexts like "live electrical wires" where "live" is an adjective.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1: To be alive; to have life.
Synonyms: exist, be, breathe, subsist, survive
Antonyms: die, perish, expire, cease
Definition 2: To reside; to make one's home in a particular place.
Synonyms: reside, dwell, inhabit, abide, stay
Antonyms: depart, leave, move (from), vacate
Definition 3: To continue to exist or remain in a specified state or condition.
Synonyms: persist, endure, last, continue, remain
Antonyms: cease, end, disappear, fade
Definition 4: To conduct one's life in a particular way; to experience or undergo.
Synonyms: experience, undergo, lead, conduct, pursue
Antonyms: abstain (from), avoid, neglect
Adjective
Definition 1: Having life; alive.
Synonyms: alive, living, animate, breathing
Antonyms: dead, inanimate, lifeless, defunct
Definition 2: (Of a broadcast) Transmitted or performed at the time of its occurrence, not prerecorded.
Synonyms: real-time, unrecorded, broadcast, unedited
Antonyms: recorded, pre-recorded, taped, playback
Definition 3: (Of a wire, circuit, or device) Electrically charged; carrying current.
Synonyms: active, charged, powered, hot (informal)
Antonyms: dead, inert, unpowered, disconnected
Definition 4: (Of an event or performance) Seen or heard in person; performed in front of an audience.
Synonyms: in-person, unrecorded, present, direct
Antonyms: recorded, simulated, virtual
Adverb
Definition 1: In a live performance; at the actual time of occurrence.
Synonyms: in real-time, directly, in person
Antonyms: pre-recorded, later, indirectly
Examples of Use
Books:
"He vowed to live a life free from regret, embracing every moment as it came." (Fictional example from a philosophical or inspirational novel)
"The ancient species of fish could only live in the deepest, coldest waters of the ocean." (From a non-fiction book on marine biology)
"The band's energy during their live performances was legendary, a stark contrast to their studio recordings." (From a biography of a music group)
Newspapers:
"Residents of the informal settlement live in fear of displacement after recent demolition notices." ("The Standard,")
"The national broadcaster will air the presidential debate live from the convention center tonight." ("Daily Nation," )
"Engineers warned the public to stay clear of the fallen power lives after the storm." ("The Star,")
Online Publications:
"How to live a minimalist lifestyle and find joy in less." (An article on a self-improvement blog, e.g., "Zen Habits,")
"Join our live webinar next Tuesday for an interactive Q&A session with industry experts." (A promotion on a professional development website, e.g., "Coursera,")
"The streaming platform announced it will soon offer live sports events directly to subscribers." (A tech news report on "Variety.com,")
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "You only live twice: Once when you are born and once when you look death in the face." (Ian Fleming, You Only Live Twice, 1964; adapted for the film You Only Live Twice, 1967)
Television Series: "Welcome to our live studio audience! Get ready for an exciting show!" (An announcer's opening for a talk show or sitcom with an audience)
Song Lyrics: "I just want to live while I'm alive, my heart is like a drum." (From Bon Jovi's song "It's My Life," 2000)
Video Games: "Tune into the live stream of the esports championship starting at 3 PM GMT." (An in-game announcement or news feed, e.g., in Fortnite)
Podcasts: "Our special segment features a live recording from our recent show in London." (A podcast host introducing a segment from an event)
General Public Discourse:
"Where do you live now?" (A common question when meeting someone new)
"I prefer to see concerts live; the energy is just different." (Expressing a personal preference for entertainment)
"Be careful, that wire is live!" (A warning about electrical safety)
"I want to live every day to the fullest." (A personal aspiration)
"Did you catch the news live this morning, or did you watch the recording?" (A question about media consumption)
10 Famous Quotes Using Live
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." – Mahatma Gandhi
"You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough." – Mae West
"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all." – Oscar Wilde
"Don't count the days, make the days count. Live each day to the fullest." – Muhammad Ali
"We do not remember days, we remember moments. Live for the moments." – Cesare Pavese
"It’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years." – Abraham Lincoln
"Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air." – Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today." – James Dean
"Live your beliefs and you can turn the world around." – Henry David Thoreau
"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear." – Eleanor Roosevelt
Etymology
The word "live" has two distinct origins, which explains why it's pronounced differently depending on how it's used!
"Live" as a Verb (to exist, reside): (pronounced /lɪv/)
This comes from the Old English verb lifian or libban, which meant "to be alive," "to exist," or "to reside."
This Old English word traces back even further to Proto-Germanic and then a very old Proto-Indo-European root that had to do with "remaining" or "clinging."
The first known use of the verb "live" with the meaning of "to be alive; to have life" dates back to before the 9th century (Old English period). So, this is a very ancient and fundamental word in English.
"Live" as an Adjective or Adverb (alive, real-time broadcast): (pronounced /laɪv/)
This "live" is actually a shortened form of the word "alive."
The word "alive" itself comes from the Old English phrase on līfe, meaning "in life" or "in living."
The adjective "live" (meaning "having life" or "active/real-time") started to appear around the mid-16th century.
So, while the meanings are related (both convey a sense of being active or current), their paths into English are separate: one is an inherited verb, and the other is a clipped form of an older phrase.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Live
Live and learn: To gain knowledge or wisdom from experience, especially from mistakes.
Live it up: To enjoy oneself to the fullest, often extravagantly.
Live on borrowed time: To continue to exist or operate beyond the expected or usual time.
Live a lie: To lead a life that is dishonest or based on falsehoods.
Live from hand to mouth: To live on very little money, with just enough to cover basic needs.
Live large: To live a luxurious or extravagant lifestyle.
Live wire: An energetic and unpredictable person; also, a wire carrying an electric current.
Live off the land: To sustain oneself by cultivating crops and raising livestock from one's own property.
Live in the moment: To fully experience and appreciate the present, without worrying about the past or future.
Live to tell the tale: To survive a difficult or dangerous experience and be able to recount it.
To live for the day: To focus only on the present and immediate future, often without planning. (Synonym for "carpe diem" but emphasizing day-to-day existence)
To live by the sword, die by the sword: To perish by the same means one used to cause harm to others.
To live through thick and thin: To endure both good and bad times together. (Synonym for "persevere through adversity")
To cut it live: (Original) To perform or execute something in real-time without rehearsal or editing, especially in entertainment or broadcasting.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of live from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
