Word
alive
US/əˈɫaɪv/
UK/ɐlˈaɪv/
Definitions
01living
A2 · Elementary
adj. having life; not dead.
adj. having life; not dead. Predicative use only; it typically follows a verb like 'be' or 'stay' rather than sitting before a noun.
Español:vivo
“The doctors were relieved to find that the hiker was still alive.”
“Despite the harsh conditions of the desert, many small organisms manage to stay alive by burrowing deep underground during the day.”
Usage
Always used after a verb (predicative); never placed directly before a noun.
Pitfall
He is an alive man.
He is a living man.
The word 'alive' is a predicative adjective. You use it after a verb like 'is', not before a noun. Use 'living' before a noun instead.
02active or in use
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. still active, working, or being used.
adj. in a state of operation, force, or existence.
“The tradition of handmade pottery is still very much alive in this village.”
“Although the original company closed years ago, the brand name remains alive through various licensing agreements in international markets.”
Synonyms
03full of activity
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. full of people, animals, or energy moving around.
adj. teeming or swarming with activity or life.
“The garden was alive with the sound of bees and birds.”
“By midnight, the city streets were alive with revelers celebrating the start of the new year.”
04aware of
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. noticing or understanding something important.
adj. fully aware of or sensitive to a specific fact or situation.
“The government is alive to the dangers of climate change.”
“The board of directors is fully alive to the potential risks associated with expanding into the volatile emerging markets.”
Usage
Usually followed by the preposition 'to'.
05carrying electricity
C1 · Advanced Technology Technical
adj. having electricity flowing through it.
adj. carrying an electrical current; energized.
“Be careful not to touch that wire because it might be alive.”
“The technician confirmed that the circuit was still alive before attempting to replace the faulty transformer.”
Teaching tip
In everyday speech, 'live' is more common for wires; 'alive' is used more often in formal technical warnings.
Etymology
From Middle English alive, alife, olive, olife, on live, on life, from Old English on līfe (“alive”, literally “in life" or "in (the) body”), from on (“on, in”) + līfe, dative singular of līf (“life”). In this sense, replaced Old English cwic (whence English quick). Equivalent to a- + life. Compare Dutch in leven (“alive”, literally “in life”), German am Leben (“alive”, literally “at life" or "at living”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/alive
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0