EnglishMain Dictionary
alive
Universal Words
adjective [notbeforenoun]
1 living; not dead:
We don't know whether he's alive or dead. * Is your mother still alive? * Doctors kept the baby alive for six weeks. * I was glad to hear you're alive and well. * She had to steal food just to stay alive. * He was buried alive in the earthquake.
2 ~ (with sth) full of emotion, excitement, activity, etc:
Edward was alive with happiness. * Her eyes were alive with interest.
3 continuing to exist:
to keep a tradition / memory / hope alive * Money from charities is keeping the theatre alive.
4 ~ with sth full of living or moving things:
The pool was alive with goldfish.
5 ~ to sth aware of sth; knowing sth exists and is important:
to be alive to the dangers / facts / possibilities * The government should be alive to the problems faced by industry.
IDIOMS
alive and kicking very active, healthy or popular
bring sth alive to make sth interesting:
Maps and pictures bring the book alive. * The teacher brought history alive with fascinating stories.
come alive
1 (of a subject or an event) to become interesting and exciting:
The game came alive in the second half. * New political issues suddenly came alive after the election.
2 (of a place) to become busy and full of activity:
The city starts to come alive after dark. * The fishing villages come alive in spring.
3 (of a person) to show interest in sth and become excited about it:
She came alive as she talked about her job.
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