alive
alive
Pronunciation
The word "alive" is an adjective.
The IPA phonetic spelling for "alive" is /əˈlaɪv/.
First Syllable: /ə/ - The "a" sound, a schwa.
Second Syllable: /laɪv/ - The "li" sound as in "lie" and the "ve" sound as in "five."
Word Form Variations
As "alive" is an adjective, it does not typically have singular/plural forms or different tenses like verbs. Its variations are primarily comparative and superlative forms:
Comparative: more alive
Superlative: most alive
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Definition 1: Having life; not dead or inanimate.
Synonyms: living, breathing, animate, vital
Antonyms: dead, deceased, lifeless, inanimate
Definition 2: Still in existence or operation; continuing to flourish or be active.
Synonyms: existing, operational, active, thriving, flourishing
Antonyms: defunct, obsolete, extinct, inactive, moribund
Definition 3: Full of energy, spirit, or activity; vibrant and responsive.
Synonyms: lively, energetic, vibrant, spirited, animated, keen
Antonyms: lethargic, sluggish, inert, apathetic, dull
Definition 4: (Often used in predicative expressions) Aware of something; sensitive to a particular feeling or situation.
Synonyms: aware, conscious, alert, sensitive, cognizant
Antonyms: oblivious, unaware, insensible, ignorant
Examples of Use
Books: "It was a dark and stormy night; the old house creaked and groaned as if it were still alive." (From A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle, published 1962)
Newspapers: "Despite the economic downturn, the local arts scene remains very much alive, with new galleries and performance spaces opening regularly." (The Guardian)
Online Publications: "In an era dominated by streaming, the debate over whether physical media is still alive rages on among film enthusiasts." (IndieWire)
Film: (Dialogue) "Get to the chopper! Go! Get to the chopper! Get out! If it bleeds, we can kill it! Come on! Come on! Do it! Do it! Come on! Kill me! I'm here! Kill me! Ahh!" "You're still alive?" (From the film Predator, released June 1987)
Television: "The show's creators stated they wanted to keep the original spirit of the comic book series alive in their adaptation." (Remarks about The Boys, from an interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, March 2024)
Music: (Lyrics) "I'm still standing, yeah yeah yeah / I'm still standing, yeah yeah yeah / Feeling like a true survivor / Feeling like a little kid / I'm still standing after all this time / Picking up the pieces of my life / And I'm still alive" (From "I'm Still Standing" by Elton John, released 1983)
General Public Discourse: "Even after all these years, the memories of our grandmother are kept alive through our family stories and traditions." (Heard in conversation)
General Public Discourse: "The community rallied to keep the small, independent bookstore alive amidst fierce competition from online retailers." (Reported by a local news podcast)
10 Quotes Using Alive
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." – Ralph Waldo Emerson, who is often paraphrased with a quote ending "to be alive." However, his actual quote is "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." (While not directly using "alive", it captures a similar sentiment often associated with living authentically.)
"While there's life, there's hope." – As long as we are alive, there is hope. (This is a common proverb, often attributed to Cicero, though variations exist.)
"I believe in evidence. I believe in observation, measurement, and reasoning, independently of which way the conclusions point, or what interests they serve. If we can't depend on them, we are only alive to act on the whims of those who claim to know what is true." – Carl Sagan
"It is not the length of life, but the depth of life." – Ralph Waldo Emerson, often associated with the idea of truly being alive.
"I came to life in the cool of the night. I found that I was alive in the cool of the night." – Paul Simon (from "Rene And Georgette Magritte With Their Dog After The War")
"If you want to feel alive, you need to live on the edge." – Unknown
"I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." – Jack London, often paraphrased as wanting to feel truly alive.
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." – Ralph Waldo Emerson, inspiring a sense of living alive.
"You have to be odd to be number one." – Dr. Seuss, which doesn't directly use "alive" but speaks to a vibrant and unique way of being alive.
"The very things that hold you down are going to lift you up." – Timothy Mouse, Dumbo, often used to convey the spirit of staying alive and overcoming challenges.
Etymology
The word "alive" has a pretty straightforward and old history!
It comes from Old English, specifically from the phrase "on līfe." Think of "on" as meaning "in" or "at," and "līfe" as the dative form of "līf," which meant "life." So, literally, "alive" meant "in life" or "in (the) body."
The earliest known uses of "alive" can be traced back to before the year 1000, in the Old English period. At that time, its core meaning was simply "having life; not dead." It essentially replaced an older Old English word, "cwic" (which is where we get our word "quick" from, originally meaning "living" or "lively").
Over time, that original meaning expanded. By the 1600s, "alive" started being used for abstract things, like "keeping a fire alive" or "keeping love alive," meaning "in a state of operation" or "unextinguished." Later, it also took on meanings like "active, lively" (around the 1700s) and "aware, attentive" (also in the 1700s). So, from its humble beginnings as simply "in life," "alive" has grown to describe not just living beings but also vibrant states, ongoing activities, and even awareness.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Alive
Alive and kicking: In good health; very active and well.
Keep (something/someone) alive: To ensure something continues to exist or someone continues to live.
Burned alive: To be consumed by fire while still living.
Bury (someone) alive: To bury a person who is still living.
Come alive: To become lively, active, or vibrant; to gain energy or animation.
Jumping alive (or "hopping alive"): (Less common, but implies great liveliness or energy)
Make (a story/memory) come alive: To make something vivid or real in the imagination.
Stay alive: To remain living, often despite difficulties or dangers.
Dead or alive: A common phrase, especially in wanted posters, indicating a person's status.
Eat (someone) alive: To overwhelm or defeat someone completely, often in a figurative sense.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of alive from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
