1 [no object] remain alive:the doctors said she had only six months to liveboth cats lived to a ripe age
[with adverbial] be alive at a specified time:he lived four centuries ago
[with adverbial] 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 and adverbial]:he was living a life of luxury in Australia
(live in (or out)) (of an employee or student) reside at (or away from) the place where one works or studies:the development is designed to provide extra accommodation for undergraduates to enable all 400 to live in
supply oneself with the means of subsistence:they live by hunting and fishing
(live through) survive (an unpleasant experience or period):both men lived through the Depression
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
(live for) regard as the purpose or most important aspect of one’s life:Tony lived for his painting
archaic (of a ship) escape destruction; remain afloat.
2 [no object, with adverbial] make one’s home in a particular place or with a particular person:I’ve lived in the East End all my lifethey lived with his grandparents
informal (of an object) be kept in a particular place:I told her where the coffee lived and went back to sleep
as I live and breathe
used to express surprise at encountering someone or something:good God, Jack Stone, as I live and breathe!
informal spend one’s time in an extremely enjoyable way, typically by being extravagant or engaging in an exciting social life:they’re living it up in Hawaii
live or stay somewhere on a temporary basis and with only a limited selection of one’s belongings:living out of a suitcase away from home has become one of the main causes of stress among businessmen
live one's own life
follow one’s own plans and principles independently of others:it’s time you stood up to her and lived your own life
live rough
live and sleep outdoors as a consequence of having no proper home:hundreds of refugees have been living rough on the streets
live to fight another day
survive a particular experience or ordeal:MPs felt the chancellor’s performance will ensure he lives to fight another day
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
North American informal at, to, or in the right, vital, or most vulnerable spot:it gets me where I live
you haven't lived!
said when enthusiastically recommending a particular experience or activity to someone unfamiliar with it:if you haven’t been in a helicopter you haven’t lived
you (or we) live and learn
used to acknowledge that a fact is new to one.
live something down
[usually with negative] succeed in making others forget something embarrassing that has happened:I’d never live it down if Lily got wind of this
live off (or on)
depend on 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:how much money do you need to live on?
subsist on (a particular type of food):scavenging seabirds live off discarded fish and fish offal
(of a person) eat, or seem to eat, only (a particular type of food):she used to live on bacon and tomato sandwiches
live something out
1do in reality that which one has imagined: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 together
(especially of a couple not married to each other) share a home and have a sexual relationship:they eventually decided to tie the knot after living together for eight years
live up to
fulfil (expectations):the food more than lived up to Luke’s predictions
fulfil (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):Fran was now living with a man fourteen years older than her
2accept or tolerate (something unpleasant):our marriage was a failure—you have to learn to live with that fact
