If people or animals are alive, they are not dead.
She does not know if he is alive or dead.
They kept her alive on a life support machine.
Synonyms: living, breathing, animate, having life More Synonyms of alive
2. adjective [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you say that someone seems alive, you mean that they seem to be very lively and to enjoy everything that they do.
Our relationship made me feel more alive.
I never expected to feel so alive in my life again.
Synonyms: lively, spirited, active, vital More Synonyms of alive
3. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If an activity, organization, or situation is alive, it continues to exist or function.
The big factories are trying to stay alive by cutting costs.
Both communities have a tradition of keeping history alive.
Synonyms: in existence, existing, functioning, active More Synonyms of alive
4. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If a place is alivewith something, there are a lot of people or things there and it seems busy or exciting.
The river was alive with birds. [+ with]
The street was alive with the sounds of the soldiers.
5. adjective [v-link ADJto n/wh]
If you are aliveto a situation or problem, you are aware of it and realize how important it is.
You must be alive to opportunity!
He was alive to what he was doing.
6.
See come alive
7.
See come/bring alive
8.
See to be eaten alive
9.
See alive and kicking
10.
See alive and well
alive in British English
(əˈlaɪv)
adjective(postpositive)
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 live2 (sense 11)
9. alive and kicking
10. look alive!
Derived forms
aliveness (aˈliveness)
noun
Word origin
Old English on līfe in life
alive in American English
(əˈlaɪv)
adjective
1.
having life; living
2.
in existence, operation, etc.; unextinguished
to keep old memories alive
3.
lively; alert
▶ USAGE: Usually used in the predicate Alive is also used interjectionally in such phrases as man alive! and sakes alive!
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈliving
Idioms:
alive to
alive with
Word origin
ME alyfe, on live < OE on līfe; on, in + līfe, dat. of līf, life
More idioms containing
alive
someone will eat someone alive
skin someone alive
eat someone alive
alive and kicking
Examples of 'alive' in a sentence
alive
Yet as a wartime document the exhibition feels fresh and alive.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
We spend our days hunting for things to keep us alive.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Might one suggest that it seems to be alive and well?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The other victim was still alive when cops went to his apartment.
The Sun (2016)
The house just felt alive again.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is alive and well - just different.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Alive or dead, but that they give them back.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Meanwhile, their old comrades are still chopping off heads, burning people alive and pushing them off buildings.
The Sun (2016)
Maybe it was my childhood coming alive again.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
And she claims many couples sign up to keep their relationships alive.
The Sun (2015)
We do not really know exactly how many people are alive and where they are.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You need a new flirtation in your life to feel alive.
The Sun (2015)
So who does she think will do the best job of keeping us all alive and well?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Are you worth more dead or alive?
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This was only the second and the more important as it keeps alive their hopes of qualification.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Is she the only person left alive?
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Why is it that we seem to be alive?
Zindell, David The Broken God (1993)
You hope it will still be alive.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We need to keep that fantasy or history alive.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It not only reduced calories but helped her to feel alive again.
The Sun (2007)
That lifestyle eats a lot of people alive.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We feel alive when we are racing.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Power is alive and well on high seas.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But how to keep desire alive in a man who has seemingly done it all?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He seemed convinced that he was the only person alive aware of the fact.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The has a patina that makes the figures seem more alive.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She and the driver found the terrified cat still alive inside.
The Sun (2015)
Britain has a window of opportunity to bring her coastline alive again.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This symbiotic relationship keeps both alive.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
You are more dead than alive.
Elizabeth Gaskell North and South (1855)
Church history came alive for us.
Christianity Today (2000)
It would appear we have far more influence than we are given credit for and our special relationship is alive and well.
The Sun (2013)
The whole place is a hive of activity, alive with the prospect of what lies ahead in three days' time.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
alive
British English: alive /əˈlaɪv/ ADJECTIVE
If people or animals are alive, they are living.
Is your hamster still alive?
American English: alive
Arabic: حَيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: vivo
Chinese: 活着的
Croatian: živ
Czech: živý
Danish: levende
Dutch: levend
European Spanish: vivo vida
Finnish: elossa
French: vivant
German: lebendig
Greek: ζωντανός
Italian: vivo
Japanese: 生きている
Korean: 살아 있는
Norwegian: levende
Polish: żywy nie martwy
European Portuguese: vivo
Romanian: viu
Russian: живой
Latin American Spanish: vivo
Swedish: levande
Thai: มีชีวิตชีวา
Turkish: canlı hayatta
Ukrainian: живий
Vietnamese: còn sống
All related terms of 'alive'
alive to
fully aware of; perceiving
alive with
teeming with; full of (living or moving things)
come alive to bring something alive
If people, places, or events come alive , they start to be lively again after a quiet period. If someone or something brings them alive , they cause them to come alive.
look alive!
hurry up! get busy !
skin alive
to scold or punish severely
alive and well
If you say that someone or something is alive and well , you are emphasizing that they continue to survive .
dead-and-alive
(of a place, activity, or person) dull ; uninteresting
alive and kicking
If you say that someone or something is alive and kicking , you are emphasizing not only that they continue to survive , but also that they are very active.
come/bring alive
If a story or description comes alive , it becomes interesting , lively , or realistic . If someone or something brings it alive , they make it seem more interesting, lively, or realistic.
eat someone alive
to cause someone great pain or distress
skin someone alive
to make someone suffer a lot in order to get an advantage for yourself
to be eaten alive
If you say that someone will be eaten alive , you mean that they will be completely destroyed or defeated by someone who is much stronger.
keep the spirit alive
A particular kind of spirit is the set of ideas , beliefs , and aims that are held by a group of people.
to come alive to bring something alive
If people, places, or events come alive , they start to be lively again after a quiet period. If someone or something brings them alive , they cause them to come alive.
someone will eat someone alive
said to mean that someone will completely defeat someone else
Chinese translation of 'alive'
alive
(əˈlaɪv)
adj
(= living)
to be alive活着(著)的 (huózhe de)
(= lively)[place, person]
to be/feel alive充满(滿)活力的 (chōngmǎn huólì de)
(= thriving)
to be alive活跃(躍)的 (huóyuè de)
to be burned/buried alive活活烧(燒)死/活埋 (huóhuó shāosǐ/huómái)
to keep sb alive维(維)持某人的生命 (wéichí mǒurén de shēngmìng)