# vicariously

/vaɪˈkɛɹiəsɫi/ (US) · /vɪkˈeəɹɪəsli/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/vicariously
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

to experience something through the feelings or actions of someone else. You feel like you are living through their experiences rather than your own.

For teachers: to experience or undergo something through the feelings, actions, or experiences of another person. Often used to describe emotional or psychological identification with another's life.

## Examples

- I live vicariously through my sister's travel stories.
- Many fans experience the success of their favorite athletes vicariously, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment that is not their own.
- The author's ability to describe the protagonist's internal struggles allows readers to experience the narrative vicariously, blurring the line between the fictional world and their own reality.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.