Live (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

verb (used without object), lived [livd], /lɪvd/, liv·ing.

to have life, as an organism; be alive; be capable of vital functions: all things that live.
to continue to have life; remain alive: to live to a ripe old age.
to continue in existence, operation, memory, etc.; last: a book that lives in my memory.
to maintain or support one's existence; provide for oneself: to live on one's income.
to feed or subsist (usually followed by on or upon): to live on rice and bananas.
to dwell or reside (usually followed by in, at, etc.): to live in a cottage.
to pass life in a specified manner: They lived happily ever after.
to direct or regulate one's life: to live by the golden rule.
to experience or enjoy to the full: At 40 she was just beginning to live.
to cohabit (usually followed by with).
to escape destruction or remain afloat, as a ship or aircraft.

verb (used with object), lived [livd], /lɪvd/, liv·ing.

Verb Phrases

to live so as to allow (a mistake, disgrace, etc.) to be forgotten or forgiven: She'll never live that crucial moment of failure down.
to reside at or away from the place of one's employment, especially as a domestic servant: Their butler lives in, but the maids live out.
to live in accordance with (expectations or an ideal or standard); measure up to: He never lived up to his father's vision of him.

Idioms

hog (def. 16).
to live in an extravagant or wild manner; pursue pleasure: He started living it up after he got out of the army.
to live comfortably: They're not wealthy but they live well.

adjective, liv·er, liv·est for 4-6, 9, 12, 15-17.

being alive; living; alive: It was the little gir's first time seeing live farm animals.
of, relating to, or during the life of a living being: Water forms about 50 to 80 percent of an animal's live weight.
characterized by or indicating the presence of living creatures: I stood still and listened to the live sounds of the forest.
(of a person) energetic and quick to speak or act; animated, spirited, or vivacious: The club members are a really live bunch.
responsive to changing conditions, needs, etc., in an imaginative and proactive way: I like this company—their approach is live and fresh.
mentally, emotionally, and physically alive, often in a new way; invigorated, confident, and fully engaged: After months of quarantine, I felt live and refreshed being exposed to places outside.During pregame practice we were feeling live and ready for anything.
made up of actual persons: He has several studio albums but rarely performs before a live audience.
(of a radio or television program, podcast, etc.) broadcast or released while happening or being performed; not prerecorded or taped: I watched a live telecast of the royal wedding.
burning or glowing: We roasted our marshmallows over live coals in the firepit.
being in play, as a baseball or football.
(of ammunition)

loaded or unexploded; ready to explode: Watch out—that’s a live grenade!
consisting of real bullets or shot, as opposed to rubber bullets or some other charge; explodable: Security forces used tear gas and live ammunition to break up the riot.

of current interest or importance, as a question or issue; generating much debate or discussion: Sexual harassment in the military is still very much a live issue.
electrically charged; carrying an electric current, especially if exposed: Crews safely removed the live wire brought down by a falling tree. On the subway line, the third rail is live.
being highly resonant or reverberant, as an auditorium or concert hall: Plants can absorb the echoes in acoustically live spaces like galleries and gymnasiums.
having resilience or bounce: The basketball was losing air rapidly and was barely live by the end of the game.
moving or imparting motion; powered.
vivid or bright, as color.
still in use, or to be used, as type set up or copy for printing.

adverb

(of a radio or television program, podcast, etc.) at the moment of its happening or being performed; not on tape or by prerecording: The program was broadcast live from San Francisco.

Idioms

verb (mainly intr)

adjective

showing the characteristics of life
of, relating to, or abounding in life
of current interest; controversial
actual
full of life and energy
(of a coal, ember, etc) glowing or burning
(esp of a volcano) not extinct
loaded or capable of exploding
transmitted or present at the time of performance, rather than being a recording
(of a record)

connected to a source of electric power
(esp of a colour or tone) brilliant or splendid
acoustically reverberant
(of a ball) in play
(of rocks, ores, etc) not quarried or mined; native
being in a state of motion or transmitting power; positively connected to a driving member
printing