lives

A family enjoys their daily lives in a cozy home.

Definition

1. Noun (plural form of life):
   • The condition of being alive: "lives" refers to the existence of living organisms, especially humans, from birth to death.
   • Individual experiences or biographies: The course of events or experiences that make up a person's existence.
   • Vitality or energy: Used metaphorically to describe the quality of being active, vibrant, or full of spirit.

Usage Examples

• The condition of being alive:
  • The rescue workers saved three lives after the earthquake. (They prevented three people from dying.)
  • Many lives were lost in the war. (Many people died.)
• Individual experiences or biographies:
  • They wrote a book about the lives of famous scientists. (A book detailing the personal histories of scientists.)
  • She has lived many different lives: as a teacher, a mother, and a traveler. (She has experienced very different phases or roles in her existence.)
• Vitality or energy:
  • The party was full of lives and laughter. (The event was lively and energetic.)
  • Her paintings seem to have lives of their own. (They appear dynamic and vibrant.)

Advanced Usage

• "lives of quiet desperation": A phrase from Henry David Thoreau describing a hidden, unfulfilled existence.
  • Many people lead lives of quiet desperation, never pursuing their dreams. (They live unhappily but without showing it openly.)
• "to have nine lives": To survive dangerous situations repeatedly, like a cat.
  • That politician seems to have nine lives; he always escapes scandal. (He repeatedly avoids serious consequences.)
• "lives in the balance": A situation where someone's existence or survival is uncertain.
  • The patient's lives hang in the balance after the surgery. (Their survival is not yet assured.)

Variants and Related Words

• Life (noun, singular): the state of being alive.
  • Life is precious. (Existence is valuable.)
• Lifeless (adj): without life; dead or lacking vitality.
  • The room was lifeless after the guests left. (It felt empty and dull.)
• Lifelong (adj): lasting for the entire duration of a person's life.
  • She had a lifelong passion for music. (Her passion continued from childhood to old age.)

Synonyms

• Existences: the state of being present or alive.
• Livelihoods: means of securing the necessities of life (e.g., work, income).
• Biographies: written accounts of a person's life.

Related Idioms

• "to live one's own life": To make independent choices and follow one's own path.
  • After college, she moved abroad to live her own life. (She pursued her own goals, separate from her family.)
• "to make a life for oneself": To establish a stable and fulfilling existence.
  • He moved to a new city to make a life for himself. (He built a home, career, and social circle.)
• "to take one's own life": To commit suicide.
  • He was so depressed that he took his own life. (He ended his own existence intentionally.)