live

The word “live” means to be alive; to have life. In plain terms, being alive, residing somewhere, or (as an adjective) currently active/happening in real time.

“Live” is pronounced LIHV (/ˈlɪv/ in IPA).

Here is “live” used in a sentence: “Some tortoises live for over 150 years.”

Words with a similar meaning to “live” include dwell, last, remain and alive.

The opposite of “live” — its antonyms — are dead, blank, dummy, neutral and recorded.

Depending on how it is used, “live” can be a verb and an adjective.

The word “live” comes from Old English. From Old English libban/lifian, "to live, be alive," a very old Germanic word related to leben in German and leven in Dutch.

“Live” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

'Live' is a verb — an action or state meaning to have life, as in 'plants live and grow.' 'Alive' is an adjective describing that same state, as in 'the plant is alive.' You live, the verb, because you are alive, the adjective. One does the work of a verb, the other of a description.

'Live' is a verb — the action of having life, as in 'we live each day to the full.' 'Life' is a noun — the state of being alive, or the span during which one is alive, as in 'a long life.' You live your life: the verb is the doing, the noun is the thing done.

As a verb, 'live' can mean to be alive ('she lived to ninety') or to reside somewhere ('they live in Rome'). The spelling is identical, so context separates them. Note too that the verb 'live' rhymes with 'give,' while the unrelated adjective 'live,' as in a live show, rhymes with 'hive.'

As a verb meaning to be alive, the opposite is to 'die' — to stop living — or to be 'dead.' 'Perish' is a stronger word for the same idea. When 'live' instead means to reside somewhere, there is no true opposite; you would simply move away or leave.