Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
If people or animals are alive, they are not dead.
She does not know if he is alive or dead...
They kept her alive on a life support machine.
? dead
ADJ: v-link ADJ, keep n ADJ
2.
If you say that someone seems alive, you mean that they seem to be very lively and to enjoy everything that they do.
Our relationship made me feel more alive...
ADJ: usu v-link ADJ
3.
If an activity, organization, or situation is alive, it continues to exist or function.
The big factories are trying to stay alive by cutting costs...
Both communities have a tradition of keeping history alive.
? dead
ADJ: v-link ADJ, keep n ADJ
4.
If a place is alive with something, there are a lot of people or things there and it seems busy or exciting.
The river was alive with birds...
ADJ: v-link ADJ, usu ADJ with n
5.
If people, places, or events come alive, they start to be lively again after a quiet period. If someone or something brings them alive, they cause them to come alive.
The doctor's voice had come alive and his small eyes shone.
PHRASE: V inflects
6.
If a story or description comes alive, it becomes interesting, lively, or realistic. If someone or something brings it alive, they make it seem more interesting, lively, or realistic.
She made history come alive with tales from her own memories...
PHRASE: V inflects
7.
If you say that someone or something is alive and kicking, you are emphasizing not only that they continue to survive, but also that they are very active.
...worries that the secret police may still be alive and kicking.
PHRASE: v-link PHR [emphasis]
8.
If you say that someone or something is alive and well, you are emphasizing that they continue to survive.
A man who went missing yesterday during a blizzard has been found alive and well.
PHRASE: v-link PHR [emphasis]