alive

[ uh-lahyv ]

adjective

1. having life; living; existing; not dead or lifeless.

   Antonyms: dead

2. living (used for emphasis):

   the proudest man alive.

3. in a state of action; in force or operation; active:

   to keep hope alive.

   Antonyms: defunct

4. full of energy and spirit; lively:

   Grandmother's more alive than most of her contemporaries.

   Synonyms: nimble, active

   Antonyms: lifeless

5. having the quality of life; vivid; vibrant:

   The room was alive with color.

6. Electricity. live ²( def 13 ).

alive

/ əˈlaɪv /

adjective

1. (of people, animals, plants, etc) living; having life
2. in existence; active

   they kept hope alive

   the tradition was still alive

3. immediately postpositive and usually used with a superlative of those living; now living

   the happiest woman alive

4. full of life; lively

   she was wonderfully alive for her age

5. usually foll by with animated

   a face alive with emotion

6. foll by to aware (of); sensitive (to)
7. foll by with teeming (with)

   the mattress was alive with fleas

8. electronics another word for live 2
9. alive and kicking
   (of a person) active and in good health
10. look alive!
    hurry up! get busy!

Derived Forms

• aˈliveness, noun

Other Words From

• a·liveness noun
• half-a·live adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of alive¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English on līfe “in life”; equivalent to a- ¹ + life

Word History and Origins

Origin of alive¹

Old English on līfe in life

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. look alive! pay attention! move quickly!:

   Look alive! We haven't got all day.

2. alive to, alert or sensitive to; aware of:

   City planners are alive to the necessity of revitalizing deteriorating neighborhoods.

3. alive with, filled with living things; swarming; teeming:

   The room was alive with mosquitoes.

More idioms and phrases containing alive

• come alive
• eat someone alive
• look alive
• more dead than alive
• skin alive

Example Sentences

Each had to have lines inserted into a vein to deliver nutrients to keep them alive.

From BBC

As those samples are not alive, they do not provide insights into dynamic processes.

From Science Daily

Although Israel believes Deif is dead, the chamber said it had been notified by the ICC prosecution that it was not in a position to determine whether he was killed or remained alive.

From BBC

On Thursday, the court said it was “not in a position to determine whether Mr. Deif has been killed or remains alive” and was therefore issuing the warrant for his arrest.

From New York Times

“I would not be single today if my husband were alive. He was my rock in every way,” she said over Zoom from her home in Georgia.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• awake
• eager
• ready
• rife