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.

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. (of a person) active and in good health

10. hurry up! get busy!

Other Word Forms

• aliveness noun
• half-alive 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. alive to, alert or sensitive to; aware of.

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

2. look alive! pay attention! move quickly!.

   Look alive! We haven't got all day.

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

Few people were more agnostically alive than Stoppard, who loved the finer things in life and handsomely earned them with his inexhaustible wit.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He described McLaren's strategy as "an interesting move", adding: "But still you have to keep the tyres alive."

Read more on BBC

The Dutchman has to finish ahead of Norris to keep his chances alive.

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Kennedy, 71, has no medical or government background, but since his appointment in February, he has undertaken massive changes to the nation’s many agencies tasked with keeping people alive and healthy.

Read more on Salon

While viruses are technically not alive, it is their nature to mutate and evolve.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• awake 
• eager 
• ready 
• rife