Distinguishing Life & Live

Life vs Live

There is a significant distinction between the terms life and live. Life refers to existence, whereas live pertains to the act of existing with life. Life is a noun, while live is an adjective. The Oxford English Dictionary defines life as “the condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.” The definition given to live is “not dead or inanimate; living” and “relating to a musical performance given in concert, not on a recording” as well as “(of a question or subject) of current or continuing interest and importance.” This article aims to clarify the difference between life and live as clearly as possible.

Key Takeaways

• Life is a noun that refers to existence, while live is an adjective that pertains to the act of existing with life.
• Life is possible only through a combination of constituents, such as air, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water, which enable the act of living.
• Live can also be used as a verb, meaning “to remain alive” or to convey the sense of something happening at the current moment.

What does Life mean?

Life is only possible when a combination of components that enable living exist. These components include air, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water, and other essential elements. Humans require oxygen for survival, while plants need carbon dioxide for survival. Plants use carbon dioxide during the process of photosynthesis.

The term ‘life’ is used to describe something without which a phenomenon, form, or system cannot exist. For example, consider the sentences ‘sentiment is the life of poetry,’ ‘you are my life,’ and ‘the sport of hockey is the very life of the villagers.’

What does Live mean?

When considered as a verb, live means “to remain alive.” For instance,

William Shakespeare lived during the Elizabethan era.
The word ‘live’ is used to convey the sense of something happening at the same moment. Consider the usages such as ‘live commentary’ and ‘live recording.’ A ‘live show’ is a show of an event as it is happening. A live event is an event characterized by the presence of beings with life. A live dance performance is characterized by the presence of beings endowed with life, namely the dancers.

What is the difference between Life and Live?

The word ‘live’ is used in an imperative sense in sentences such as ‘live and let live’ and ‘live happily.’ Similarly, observe the usage of the word ‘life’ in sentences such as ‘lead the life of a saint’ and ‘incidents in the life of Thomas Alva Edison.’ In the sentence ‘lead the life of a saint,’ the word ‘life’ implies the nature of a saint’s life, whereas in the sentence ‘incidents in the life of Thomas Alva Edison,’ the word ‘life’ is concerned with Edison’s life.

Summary:

Live vs Life

• Life is a noun, while live is an adjective and also acts as the verb form of the noun life.
• Life refers to existence, whereas live pertains to the act of existing with life.
• As a verb, live is used in sentences in an imperative sense.