ENGLISH
REFERENCE

alive

adj.
A2 Elementary Oxford US //əˈɫaɪv// UK //ɐlˈaɪv// alive General-service

adj. living and not dead. You can also use it to describe a place that is full of energy and activity.

adj. possessing life; not dead. In a figurative sense, it describes something that is active, continuing to exist, or full of energy.


SIMPLE

The plants are still alive after the long winter.

CONTEXTUAL

The city center is really alive at night when all the restaurants and theaters open.

COMPLEX

Biologists are still debating the exact criteria that determine whether a virus can be considered truly alive or merely a complex piece of genetic machinery.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

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”).

Usage

Usually functions as a predicative adjective, meaning it follows a verb like 'be' or 'feel' rather than sitting directly before a noun.

Pitfall

an alive persona living personAlive is rarely used before a noun; use 'living' or 'live' in the attributive position.

Idioms3 entries

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