Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Having life; living. synonym: living.
  • adjective In existence or operation; active.
  • adjective Full of living or moving things; abounding.
  • adjective Full of activity or animation; lively.
  • adjective Sports In play; live.
  • idiom (alive to) Aware of; sensitive to.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In life; living; in the state in which the organs of the body perform their functions: opposed to dead: as, the man is alive.
  • In a state of action; in force or operation; unextinguished; undestroyed; unexpired: as, keep the suit alive.
  • Full of alacrity; active; sprightly; lively: as, the company were all alive.
  • Enlivened; animated; strongly aroused.
  • Attentive; open to impressions (from); sensitive; susceptible: used with to: as, he is sufficiently alive to the beauties of nature, but yet more alive to his own interests.
  • Filled as with living things; swarming; thronged: as, the city was all alive when the general entered.
  • Of all living, by way of emphasis.
  • In printing. See live.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Having life, in opposition to dead; living; being in a state in which the organs perform their functions.
  • adjective In a state of action; in force or operation; unextinguished; unexpired; existent
  • adjective Exhibiting the activity and motion of many living beings; swarming; thronged.
  • adjective Sprightly; lively; brisk.
  • adjective Having susceptibility; easily impressed; having lively feelings, as opposed to apathy; sensitive.
  • adjective Of all living (by way of emphasis).

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Having life, in opposition to dead; living; being in a state in which the organs perform their functions; as, an animal or a plant which is alive.
  • adjective In a state of action; in force or operation; unextinguished; unexpired; existent
  • adjective Exhibiting the activity and motion of many living beings; swarming; thronged.
  • adjective Sprightly; lively; brisk.
  • adjective Having susceptibility; easily impressed; having lively feelings, as opposed to apathy; sensitive.
  • adjective As intensifier, of all living.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective capable of erupting
  • adjective having life or vigor or spirit
  • adjective possessing life
  • adjective (followed by `to' or `of') aware of
  • adjective (often followed by `with') full of life and spirit
  • adjective in operation
  • adjective mentally perceptive and responsive

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English : a-, in a specified state; see a– + live, life (from Old English līf; see life).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Old English on live, on līfe ("in life"); līfe, dative of līf ("life")

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Examples

  • Meanwhile, he was alive ... impossible as it seemed, he was _alive_!

    Man of Many Minds 1925

  • Why did he not first make him alive; and then after he found out that he _was alive_, and stirring round in the grave, call to him and tell him to come out of that dark place?

    Life and Labors of Elder John Kline, the Martyr Missionary Collated from his Diary by Benjamin Funk John Kline 1830

  • Finally, plainly aware that the dam might well keep his name alive for posterity long after all other memories of his ill-starred presidency had faded, he closed with what was certainly a heartfelt request: “I hope to be present at its final completion as a bystander.”

    Colossus Michael Hiltzik 2010

  • Finally, plainly aware that the dam might well keep his name alive for posterity long after all other memories of his ill-starred presidency had faded, he closed with what was certainly a heartfelt request: “I hope to be present at its final completion as a bystander.”

    Colossus Michael Hiltzik 2010

  • Dripping is a series of low-key messages and phone calls designed to keep your name alive between personal contacts.

    Hot Prospects Bill Good 2008

  • Dripping is a series of low-key messages and phone calls designed to keep your name alive between personal contacts.

    Hot Prospects Bill Good 2008

  • It made for cheap reprint material in the Meg, helping to keep the title alive for another year.

    28 Days of 2000 AD #16.1: Dark Bish-OP Pt. 3 DAVID BISHOP 2007

  • And to put this story in perspective, Charles Taylor is the first elected Liberian president to end his term alive since World War II.

    CNN Transcript Aug 11, 2003 2003

  • The Cuarteto Quiroga, a youthful ensemble founded in Madrid in 2004, is keeping his name alive and creating curiosity about him among listeners outside Spain, and is doing him proud.

    NYT > Home Page By ALLAN KOZINN 2012

  • If the Colonels want to keep their chances at another title alive, they will have to defeat Southeast Missouri State (1-6, 0-5 OVC) today at Roy Kidd Stadium.

    unknown title 2009

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