Live

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "live" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a verb to indicate that something exists or is happening at present ("I live in a small town"), as an adjective to describe something as currently happening or broadcast ("a live sports event"), or as an adverb to describe a situation as it is happening now ("It's happening live"). Example sentence: I watched a live music performance last night.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live".

The Economist

That's the world we live in.

The Guardian - Sport

Within 24 hours of this happening Katie Hopkins posted vile remarks on Twitter about how long the people of Scotland live for.

The Guardian

Being able to live in a stable home is a basic human need, tied up with important feelings of choice and certainty, and we are living in a world now where only a few can hope for that, which cannot be right".

The Guardian - Business

All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, where you can find yet more stats, including live in-game data and unique player and team ratings.

The Guardian - Sport

I live in Seattle.

The New York Times

I live in hope".

The Guardian

The Live Better Challenge is funded by Unilever; its focus is sustainable living.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Interested in finding out more about how you can live better?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The 2 million people from other EU states who live in Britain will be forced to have resident permits or identity cards if David Cameron is to fulfil his pledge to make rules on access to public services for new migrants the toughest in Europe.

The Guardian

Take a look at this month's Live Better challenge here.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "live" as an adjective (e.g., "live broadcast"), ensure it clearly modifies the noun it precedes to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "the live," specify "the live performance" or "the live event".

Common error

Avoid using "live" when the plural possessive "lives" or the noun "life" is grammatically correct. For example, instead of "He live a good life", say "He lived a good life". Or instead of "The live of animals", use "The lives of animals".

Linguistic Context

"Live" functions primarily as a verb, denoting existence, residence, or experience. It also serves as an adjective, describing something current or in progress, and as an adverb, indicating real-time occurrence. Ludwig AI confirms these versatile roles.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "Live" is a versatile term that functions as a verb, adjective, and adverb, each with distinct meanings. As Ludwig AI confirms, its grammatical correctness and high frequency, especially in news and media, indicate its importance in English communication. When writing, it's useful to distinguish between "live", "lives" and "life" to prevent confusion. Remember to consider the context to use the term most effectively, ensuring clear and accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Be alive

Focuses specifically on the state of being alive, emphasizing biological existence.

Exist

Highlights the general state of being, whether physical or abstract.

Reside

Emphasizes the act of dwelling or inhabiting a place.

Experience life

Focuses on actively engaging with and participating in life's events.

Survive

Emphasizes the ability to continue living, especially in difficult circumstances.

Live it up

Highlights enjoying life to the fullest, often implying indulgence and excitement.

Be in progress

Focuses on an event that is currently happening or unfolding.

Be broadcast

Specifies that something is being transmitted for public viewing or listening.

Ongoing

Describes something that is currently happening and continuing.

In real time

Emphasizes that something is happening and being experienced at the present moment.

FAQs

How can I use "live" in a sentence as a verb?

As a verb, "live" means to have life or reside somewhere. For example, "I "live" in New York" or "They "live" a comfortable life".

What does "live" mean as an adjective?

As an adjective, "live" describes something that is currently happening or in progress. For example, "a "live" performance" or ""live" television".

When is "live" used as an adverb?

The adverb "live" describes an event happening in real-time. For example, "The concert was broadcast "live"".

What are some alternatives to "live" when referring to inhabiting a place?

Instead of "live", you can use words like "reside", "dwell", or "inhabit" to describe where someone lives.