1 [no object] remain alive:the doctors said she had only six months to liveboth cats lived to a ripe age
be alive at a specified time:he lived four centuries ago
spend one’s life in a particular way or under particular circumstances:people are living in fear in the wake of the shootings [with object]:he was living a life of luxury in Australia
supply oneself with the means of subsistence:they live by hunting and fishing
survive in someone’s mind; be remembered:only the name lived on
have an exciting or fulfilling life:he couldn’t wait to get out of school and really start living
2 [no object] make one’s home in a particular place or with a particular person:I’ve lived in New England all my lifethey lived with his grandparents
Phrases
as I live and breathe
used, especially in spoken English, to express one’s surprise at coming across someone or something:good Lord, Jack Stone, as I live and breathe!
be extremely interested in or enthusiastic about a particular subject or activity and so devote a great deal of one’s time to it:they live and breathe Italy and all things Italian
live and let live
proverb you should tolerate the opinions and behavior of others so that they will similarly tolerate your own.
live or stay somewhere on a temporary basis and with only a limited selection of one’s belongings, typically because one’s occupation requires a great deal of traveling.
live one's own life
follow one’s own plans and principles independent of others.
live rough
live and sleep outdoors as a consequence of having no proper home.
live to fight another day
survive a particular experience or ordeal.
live to regret something
come to wish that one had not done something:those who put work before their family life often live to regret it
live to tell the tale
survive a dangerous experience and be able to tell others about it.
live with oneself
be able to retain one’s self-respect as a consequence of one’s actions:taking money from children—how can you live with yourself?
long live ——!
said to express loyalty or support for a specified person or thing:long live the Queen!
where one lives
informal at, to, or in the right, vital, or most vulnerable spot:it gets me where I live
you haven't lived
used, especially in spoken English, as a way of enthusiastically recommending something to someone who has not experienced it:you haven’t lived until you’ve tasted their lobster ravioli
you (or we) live and learn
used, especially in spoken English, to acknowledge that a fact is new to one.
Phrasal Verbs
live something down
succeed in making others forget something embarrassing that has happened.
live for
regard as the purpose or most important aspect of one’s life:Tony lived for his painting
live in
(of an employee or student) reside at the place where one works or studies.
live off (or on)
depend on (someone or something) as a source of income or support:if you think you’re going to live off me for the rest of your life, you’re mistaken
have (a particular amount of money) with which to buy food and other necessities.
subsist on (a particular type of food).
(of a person) eat, or seem to eat, only (a particular type of food):she used to live on bacon and tomato sandwiches
live out
(of an employee or student) reside away from the place where one works or studies.
live something out
1do in reality that which one has thought or dreamed about:your wedding day is the one time that you can live out your most romantic fantasies
2spend the rest of one’s life in a particular place or particular circumstances:he lived out his days as a happy family man
live through
survive (an unpleasant experience or period):both men lived through the Depression
live together
(especially of a couple not married to each other) share a home and have a sexual relationship.
live up to
fulfill (expectations).
fulfill (an undertaking):the president lived up to his promise to set America swiftly on a new path
live with
1share a home and have a sexual relationship with (someone to whom one is not married).
2accept or tolerate (something unpleasant):our marriage was a failure—you have to learn to live with that fact
Origin:
Old Englishlibban, lifian, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch leven and German leben, also to life and leave1
