1
: having life : not dead or inanimate
2
a
: still in existence, force, or operation : active
kept hope alive
b
: still active in competition with a chance of victory
must win to stay alive in the playoffs
3
: knowing or realizing the existence of something : sensitive
alive to the danger
4
: marked by alertness, energy, or briskness
his face came alive at the mention of food
5
: marked by much life, animation, or activity : swarming
streets alive with traffic
6
—used as an intensive following the noun
the proudest boy alive
aliveness
noun
Examples of alive in a Sentence
It feels great to be alive.
The patient was barely alive.
The sheriff was ordered to find the killer and bring him back alive.
He managed to stay alive for a week without any food.
The patient is being kept alive by artificial means.
an old tradition that is still alive
We need to keep hope alive.
The team needs to win tonight in order to stay alive in the play-offs.
I love to sail because it makes me feel so alive.
Recent Examples on the Web
While her competitive days may be behind her, Gunn seems to have found another way to keep her love for breaking alive.
—
Gabriella Rudy, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
Advertisement Crews located debris from the boat along the coast and one person was found alive and taken for medical treatment, the sheriff’s office said.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
The bottom line: The 8th District seat is the type of race Democrats need to win to regain the majority in the U.S. House, and Republicans must hold the 3rd and 4th districts to keep their majority alive.
—John Frank, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
The artificial state is not alive; it cannot be killed.
—Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for alive 
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Gabriella Rudy, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
Advertisement Crews located debris from the boat along the coast and one person was found alive and taken for medical treatment, the sheriff’s office said.
—Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2024
The bottom line: The 8th District seat is the type of race Democrats need to win to regain the majority in the U.S. House, and Republicans must hold the 3rd and 4th districts to keep their majority alive.
—John Frank, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
The artificial state is not alive; it cannot be killed.
—Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for alive
Dictionary Entries Near alive
Cite this Entry
“Alive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alive. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
alive
adjective
: having life : not dead or inanimate
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