ALIVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does alive mean? 

• ALIVE (adjective)
  The adjective ALIVE has 7 senses:

1. possessing life

2. (often followed by 'with') full of life and spirit

3. having life or vigor or spirit

4. (followed by 'to' or 'of') aware of

5. in operation

6. mentally perceptive and responsive

7. capable of erupting

  Familiarity information: ALIVE used as an adjective is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ALIVE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Possessing life

Synonyms:

alive; live

Context example:

a live canary

Similar:

liveborn ((of newborn infant) showing signs of life after birth; not stillborn)

viable (capable of life or normal growth and development)

vital (manifesting or characteristic of life)

Also:

animate (endowed with animal life as distinguished from plant life)

Attribute:

animation; vitality (the property of being able to survive and grow)

aliveness; animation; life; living (the condition of living or the state of being alive)

Antonym:

dead (no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life)

Derivation:

aliveness (the property of being animated; having animal life as distinguished from plant life)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(often followed by 'with') full of life and spirit

Context example:

a face alive with mischief

Similar:

lively (full of life and energy)

Derivation:

aliveness (the property of being animated; having animal life as distinguished from plant life)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Having life or vigor or spirit

Synonyms:

alive; animated

Context example:

became very animated when he heard the good news

Similar:

enlivened; spirited (made lively or spirited)

lively; vital (full of spirit; full of life)

reanimated; revived (given fresh life or vigor or spirit)

Derivation:

aliveness (the property of being animated; having animal life as distinguished from plant life)

Sense 4

Meaning:

(followed by 'to' or 'of') aware of

Context example:

is alive to the moods of others

Similar:

sensitive (being susceptible to the attitudes, feelings, or circumstances of others)

Derivation:

aliveness (the condition of living or the state of being alive)

Sense 5

Meaning:

In operation

Synonyms:

active; alive

Context example:

an active tradition

Similar:

existent; existing (having existence or being or actuality)

Derivation:

aliveness (the condition of living or the state of being alive)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Mentally perceptive and responsive

Synonyms:

alert; alive; awake

Context example:

was now awake to the reality of his predicament

Similar:

aware; cognisant; cognizant ((sometimes followed by 'of') having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception)

Derivation:

aliveness (the condition of living or the state of being alive)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Capable of erupting

Synonyms:

alive; live

Context example:

the volcano is very much alive

Similar:

active ((of e.g. volcanos) capable of erupting)

 Context examples 

The books were alive in these men.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I took them all in my right hand, put five of them into my coat-pocket; and as to the sixth, I made a countenance as if I would eat him alive.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

He was never seen again alive.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Little Marleen now felt as lighthearted and happy as if her brother were still alive, and she went back to the house and sat down cheerfully to the table and ate.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

So the soldier was summoned and entered the Throne Room timidly, for while Oz was alive he never was allowed to come farther than the door.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

This I do not understand, but Yamikan has said, 'I have journeyed far on the iron boat; behold! I am still alive.'

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Oh, yes, mother is alive and well.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“And do you really know all this?” cried Mrs. Gardiner, whose curiosity as to the mode of her intelligence was all alive.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

I looked at him, the man who had been hurled down from the topmost pitch of life to be buried alive and be worse than dead.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

I felt, as I looked upon that supple figure, alive with nervous energy, that it was indeed a strenuous day that awaited us.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)