live

adjective

UK /laɪv/

1
only before nounliving and not dead
legislation concerning the transport of live animals
The table shows the rate of infant mortality per 1000 live births.
Synonyms and related words
Alive
alive
living
live
1. 1a
  live yoghurt contains the living bacteria that are used to make it
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe the state or consistency of food
  buttery
  calorific
  caramelised
2
a live television or radio programme can be watched or listened to at the same time as it happens
Australia’s popular live TV comedy series The Late Show
non-stop live coverage of the trial
Synonyms and related words
Types of television or radio programme
box set
breakfast television
broadcast
1. 2a
  a live performance is given before an audience
  We found a bar that has live music on Friday nights.
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe performers or performances
  all-star
  bankable
  blinder
2. 2b
  a live recording is made during a performance and not in a studio
  The band are releasing a live album of their recent Japan tour.
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe performers or performances
  all-star
  bankable
  blinder
3
a live wire or piece of equipment is connected to the electricity supply and has electricity going through it
Synonyms and related words
Electricity and electrical power
AC
active
alternating current
4
live bullets are real, rather than blanks or rubber or plastic bullets
Police began firing live ammunition into the crowd.
Synonyms and related words
Bullets
bandolier
blank
blank cartridge
1. 4a
  a live bomb or missile is capable of exploding because it has not yet been used
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe weapons and explosives
  anti-aircraft
  anti-personnel
  anti-tank
2. 4b
  a live match is capable of producing a flame because it has not yet been used
  Synonyms and related words
  Things used for lighting fires and making flames
  faggot
  firelighter
  incendiary
5
a live issue continues to be important and relevant
We’ve got to make people realize that drink-driving is still a live issue.
Synonyms and related words
Relevant and appropriate
relevant
appropriate
applicable
Synonyms and related words
Important
important
major
key

phrases

a real live

live

adjective

US /laɪv/

1
only before nounliving and not dead
legislation concerning the treatment of live animals
The table shows the rate of infant mortality per 1000 live births.
Synonyms and related words
Alive
alive
living
live
1. 1a
  live yogurt contains the living bacteria that are used to make it
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe the state or consistency of food
  buttery
  calorific
  caramelized
2
a live television or radio program can be watched or listened to at the same time as it happens
the popular live TV broadcast of the Olympics
non-stop live coverage of the trial
Synonyms and related words
Types of television or radio program
box set
breakfast television
broadcast
1. 2a
  a live performance is given before an audience
  We found a bar that has live music on Friday nights.
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe performers or performances
  all-star
  bankable
  blinder
2. 2b
  a live recording is made during a performance and not in a studio
  The band is releasing a live album of their recent tour of Japan.
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe performers or performances
  all-star
  bankable
  blinder
3
a live wire or piece of equipment is connected to the electricity supply and has electricity going through it
Synonyms and related words
Electricity and electrical power
AC
active
alternating current
4
live bullets are real, rather than blanks or rubber or plastic bullets
Police began firing live ammunition into the crowd.
Synonyms and related words
Bullets
bandolier
blank
blank cartridge
1. 4a
  a live bomb or missile is capable of exploding because it has not yet been used
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe weapons and explosives
  antiaircraft
  anti-personnel
  anti-tank
2. 4b
  a live match is capable of producing a flame because it has not yet been used
  Synonyms and related words
  Things used for lighting fires and making flames
  cord
  faggot
  fagot
5
a live issue continues to be important and relevant
We’ve got to make people realize that drunk driving is still a live issue.
Synonyms and related words
Relevant and appropriate
relevant
appropriate
applicable
Synonyms and related words
Important
important
major
key

phrases

a real live

live

adverb

UK /laɪv/

1
if something is broadcast live, it can be watched or listened to at the same time as it happens
The match is being broadcast live tonight on BBC1.
Synonyms and related words
Relating to television or radio
colour
continuity
live
1. 1a
  if something is performed live, it is performed before an audience
  She recently sang live at the Asian Pop Awards ceremony.
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe performers or performances
  all-star
  bankable
  blinder
2. 1b
  if something is recorded live, it is recorded during a concert and not in a studio
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe performers or performances
  all-star
  bankable
  blinder

phrases

go live

live

adverb

US /laɪv/

1
if something is broadcast live, it can be watched or listened to at the same time as it happens
The game is being broadcast live tonight on ESPN.
Synonyms and related words
Relating to television or radio
color
continuity
live
1. 1a
  if something is performed live, it is performed before an audience
  She recently sang live at the Asian Pop Awards ceremony.
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe performers or performances
  all-star
  bankable
  blinder
2. 1b
  if something is recorded live, it is recorded during a concert and not in a studio
  Synonyms and related words
  Words used to describe performers or performances
  all-star
  bankable
  blinder

phrases

go live

live

verb

UK /lɪv/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	live
he/she/it	lives
present participle	living
past tense	lived
past participle	lived

1
intransitive to have your home in a particular place
Paris is a nice place to live.
live in/near/on/at etc:
They lived in a basement flat in South London.
I think he lives somewhere near Bath.
live at home (=in your parents’ home):
Do you still live at home?
Synonyms and related words
To live, stay or work in a particular place
live
arrive
settle down
2
intransitive/transitive to have a particular kind of life
people living in poverty
They have lived under military rule for nineteen years.
Food is inexpensive here, so you can live quite cheaply.
live well/comfortably (=have a pleasant life with plenty of money):
I had a good salary then, and we lived pretty well.
live a full/quiet/busy life:
Now they have retired and want to live a quiet life.
live a life of crime/luxury/hardship:
She was destined from birth to live a life of hardship.
Synonyms and related words
To live in a particular way
be/live in each other’s pockets
drop out
end your days
3
intransitive to keep yourself alive in a particular way
live by doing something:
The Aymaras live by hunting and fishing in the Desaguadero river.
live on/off something:
Millions of families are living on benefits.
Synonyms and related words
To live in a particular way
be/live in each other’s pockets
drop out
end your days
4
intransitive to be alive, or to stay alive
She’s not expected to live long.
Who wants to live forever?
live to the age of.../live to be...:
Despite her unhealthy lifestyle, Aunt Joan lived to be 86.
live to do something (=live long enough to do it):
He lived to see the first talking pictures.
Synonyms and related words
To exist
exist
operate
live
1. 4a
  to be alive in a particular time
  He’s one of the greatest pianists who ever lived.
  live in/at/before/after:
  Hippodamus lived in the early fifth century BC.
  Synonyms and related words
  To exist
  exist
  operate
  live
5
intransitive to continue to exist and have influence
The spirit of revolution still lives.
live in someone’s memory:
The events of that day have always lived in my memory.
Synonyms and related words
To continue to exist or happen
go on
go along
persist
6
intransitive to have an interesting and exciting life
Come on, you have to live a little!
Synonyms and related words
To enjoy something, or to enjoy yourself
like
enjoy
go in for
7
intransitive informalto be usually kept in a particular place
live in/on/under:
The box lives on the top shelf there.
Synonyms and related words
To be in a particular position or place
occupy
set
exist
8
live and die by
used to say that something is completely essential
I live and die by baseball.
Submitted from:
Belgium on 25/09/2017
Open Dictionary - September2017
9
live it large
informal
to go out and enjoy yourself at a pub, club or bar
They’ve been livin’ it large.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 18/04/2012
Open Dictionary - April2012

phrases

as I live and breathe

can live with something

you haven’t lived

if I live to be a hundred

live and breathe something

you live and learn

live and let live

live beyond/within your means

live by/on your wits

live for/in the moment

live from day to day

live from hand to mouth

live in fear (of)

live in hope

live in the past

live in sin (with someone)

live it up

live a lie

live off the fat of the land

live off the land

live to fight/see another day

live to see the day

live to tell the tale

someone will live to regret something

phrasal verbs

live by

live down

live for

live in

live off

live on

live out

live through

live together

live up to

live with

live

verb

US /lɪv/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	live
he/she/it	lives
present participle	living
past tense	lived
past participle	lived

1
intransitive to be alive, or to stay alive
She’s not expected to live long.
Who wants to live forever?
live to the age of.../live to be...:
Despite her unhealthy lifestyle, Aunt Joan lived to be 86.
live to do something (=live long enough to do it):
He lived to see the first talking pictures.
Synonyms and related words
To exist
exist
operate
live
1. 1a
  to be alive in a particular time
  live in/at/before/after:
  Hippodamus lived in the early fifth century B.C.
  He’s one of the greatest pianists who ever lived.
  Synonyms and related words
  To exist
  exist
  operate
  live
2
intransitive to have your home in a particular place
Paris is a nice place to live.
live in/near/on/at etc.:
They lived in a studio apartment in Manhattan.
I think he lives somewhere near Kansas City.
live at home (=in your parents’ home):
Do you still live at home?
Synonyms and related words
To live, stay or work in a particular place
live
arrive
settle down
3
intransitive/transitive to have a particular kind of life
people living in poverty
They have lived under military rule for nineteen years.
Food is inexpensive here, so you can live quite cheaply.
live well/comfortably (=have a pleasant life with plenty of money):
I had a good salary then, and we lived pretty well.
live a full/quiet/busy life:
Now they have retired and want to live a quiet life.
live a life of crime/luxury/hardship:
She was destined from birth to live a life of hardship.
Synonyms and related words
To live in a particular way
be/live in each other’s pockets
drop out
end your days
4
intransitive to keep yourself alive in a particular way
live by doing something:
The Aymaras live by hunting and fishing in the Desaguadero river.
live on/off something:
Millions of families are living on welfare.
Synonyms and related words
To live in a particular way
be/live in each other’s pockets
drop out
end your days
5
intransitive to continue to exist and have influence
The spirit of the Revolution still lives.
live in someone’s memory:
The events of that day have always lived in my memory.
Synonyms and related words
To continue to exist or happen
go on
go along
persist
6
intransitive to have an interesting and exciting life
Come on, you have to live a little!
Synonyms and related words
To enjoy something, or to enjoy yourself
enjoy
like
delight in
7
intransitive mainly Britishinformalto be usually kept in a particular place
Synonyms and related words
To be in a particular position or place
occupy
set
exist
8
live and die by
used to say that something is completely essential
I live and die by baseball.
Submitted from:
Belgium on 25/09/2017
Open Dictionary - September2017
9
live it large
informal
to go out and enjoy yourself at a pub, club or bar
They’ve been livin’ it large.
Submitted from:
United Kingdom on 18/04/2012
Open Dictionary - April2012

phrases

as I live and breathe

can live with something

you haven’t lived

if I live to be a hundred

live and breathe something

you live and learn

live and let live

live beyond/within your means

live by your wits

live for/in the moment

live from day to day

live from hand to mouth

live in fear (of)

live in hope

live in the past

live in sin (with someone)

live it up

live a lie

live off the fat of the land

live off the land

live to fight/see another day

live to see the day

live to tell the tale

someone will live to regret something

phrasal verbs

live by

live down

live for

live in

live off

live on

live out

live through

live together

live up to

live with

live ​‌‌

live ​‌‌

live ​‌

live ​‌

live ​‌‌‌

live and die by

live it large

live ​‌‌‌

live and die by

live it large

live

live

live

live

live

live