alive

[ uh-lahyv ]

/ əˈlaɪv /

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See synonyms for: alive / aliveness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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

living (used for emphasis): the proudest man alive.

in a state of action; in force or operation; active: to keep hope alive.

full of energy and spirit; lively: Grandmother's more alive than most of her contemporaries.

having the quality of life; vivid; vibrant: The room was alive with color.

Electricity. live² (def. 17).

OTHER WORDS FOR alive

4 active, nimble.

See synonyms for alive on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR alive

1 dead.

3 defunct.

4 lifeless.

See antonyms for alive on Thesaurus.com

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Idioms about alive

alive to, alert or sensitive to; aware of: City planners are alive to the necessity of revitalizing deteriorating neighborhoods.

alive with, filled with living things; swarming; teeming: The room was alive with mosquitoes.

look alive! pay attention! move quickly!: Look alive! We haven't got all day.

Origin of alive

before 1000; Middle English; Old English on līfe in life; see a-¹

OTHER WORDS FROM alive

a·live·ness, nounhalf-a·live, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use alive in a sentence

Eric Garcetti succeeded Villaraigosa and has received high marks in his first year and a half on the job.
The Golden State Preps for the ‘Red Wedding’ of Senate Races|David Freedlander|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
My dad was a sailor, and all through my childhood he was away half of the time at sea, and to an extent I have a similar job.
Belle & Sebastian Aren’t So Shy Anymore|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
As a result, training squadrons—called Formal Training Units (FTU)—are being staffed with less than half the people they need.
Exclusive: U.S. Drone Fleet at ‘Breaking Point,’ Air Force Says|Dave Majumdar|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Travel Noire fellows earned about a half million travel miles in 2014.
‘We Out Here’: Inside the New Black Travel Movement|Charlise Ferguson|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Murders in the City of Angels have fallen by about half in the last 10 years: no small feat for such a big city.
America’s 2014 Murder Capital|Brandy Zadrozny|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
On the thirteenth of the same month they bound to the stake, in order to burn alive, a man who had two religious in his house.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
It is the principal waste-product of metabolism, and constitutes about one-half of all the solids excreted—about 30 gm.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
A small book, bound in full purple calf, lay half hidden in a nest of fine tissue paper on the dressing-table.
Hilda Lessways|Arnold Bennett
Hilda, trembling at the door, more than half expected Mr. Orgreave to say: "You mean, she's invited herself."
Hilda Lessways|Arnold Bennett
All changes are to be Rang either by walking them (as the term is) or else Whole-pulls, or Half-pulls.
Tintinnalogia, or, the Art of Ringing|Richard Duckworth and Fabian Stedman

British Dictionary definitions for alive

alive

/ (əˈlaɪv) /

adjective (postpositive)

(of people, animals, plants, etc) living; having life

in existence; activethey kept hope alive; the tradition was still alive

(immediately postpositive and usually used with a superlative) of those living; now livingthe happiest woman alive

full of life; livelyshe was wonderfully alive for her age

(usually foll by with) animateda face alive with emotion

(foll by to) aware (of); sensitive (to)

(foll by with) teeming (with)the mattress was alive with fleas

electronics another word for live 2 (def. 11)

alive and kicking (of a person) active and in good health

look alive! hurry up! get busy!

Derived forms of alive

aliveness, noun

Word Origin for alive

Old English on līfe in life

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with alive

alive

In addition to the idioms beginning with alive

alive and kicking
alive to
alive with

also see:

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

alive

OTHER WORDS FOR alive

OPPOSITES FOR alive

Idioms about alive

Origin of alive

OTHER WORDS FROM alive

Words related to alive

How to use alive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for alive

Derived forms of alive

Word Origin for alive

Other Idioms and Phrases with alive