lives: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighNeutral (used across formal, informal, and technical contexts)
Quick answer
What does “lives” mean?
The plural form of 'life', referring to multiple existences or life experiences.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The plural form of 'life', referring to multiple existences or life experiences; also the third person singular present tense of the verb 'to live'.
Can refer to biographies, animated existence, vitality, or the act of residing/experiencing life in a particular way.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Minor potential differences in collocational frequency (e.g., 'saving lives' might be slightly more common in public health messaging in the UK).
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “lives” in a Sentence
[Subject] lives [Adverbial of place/time/manner] (e.g., She lives quietly).[Number/Quantifier] lives were [verbed] (e.g., Three lives were saved).Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lives” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He lives in a small flat in Manchester.
- The legend lives on in local folklore.
- She lives for the weekends.
American English
- She lives in an apartment in Chicago.
- The tradition lives on in our community.
- He lives and breathes baseball.
adverb
British English
- N/A for 'lives'. The adverb form is 'live' /laɪv/ (e.g., broadcast live).
American English
- N/A for 'lives'. The adverb form is 'live' /laɪv/ (e.g., performed live).
adjective
British English
- N/A for 'lives'. The adjective form is 'live' /laɪv/ (e.g., live broadcast).
American English
- N/A for 'lives'. The adjective form is 'live' /laɪv/ (e.g., live show).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in HR contexts ('work-life balance affects employees' lives') or corporate responsibility ('our product saves lives').
Academic
Common in social sciences, history, and medicine (e.g., 'The study tracked the lives of 1000 participants', 'The policy impact on civilian lives').
Everyday
Extremely common (e.g., 'How's your sister? Where does she live now?', 'Many lives were changed by the event').
Technical
In medicine/emergency services ('first responders save lives'), in literature ('analysing the lives of characters'), in demography ('life expectancy').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “lives”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “lives”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lives”
- Incorrect pronunciation confusion (e.g., saying /laɪvz/ for the noun).
- Subject-verb agreement error when 'lives' is the verb (e.g., 'They lives in London' - incorrect).
- Misspelling as 'lifes' for the plural noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The pronunciation /laɪvz/ (with a long 'i') is for the verb (third person singular of 'to live'). The pronunciation /lɪvz/ (with a short 'i') is for the noun (plural of 'life').
No, 'lifes' is always a spelling error. The correct plural of the noun 'life' is always 'lives'.
No. As a noun, it is strictly plural. The singular is 'life'. As a verb, it is singular (he/she/it lives).
No significant regional variation. Both British and American English use /lɪvz/ for the noun and /laɪvz/ for the verb. The vowel quality in /lɪvz/ might have slight regional variation (e.g., nearer to /ləvz/ in some American accents), but the distinction from the verb's /aɪ/ is maintained.
The plural form of 'life', referring to multiple existences or life experiences.
Lives is usually neutral (used across formal, informal, and technical contexts) in register.
Lives: in British English it is pronounced /laɪvz/ (verb), /lɪvz/ (noun), and in American English it is pronounced /laɪvz/ (verb), /lɪvz/ (noun). Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “live/lead separate lives”
- “have nine lives”
- “a cat with nine lives”
- “frighten the life out of someone”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
LIVES: Long or short I? If it's about LIFE (long I), it's LIVES (long I). If it's about to LIVE (short I), it's LIVES (short I).
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY (so 'lives' are multiple journeys). LIFE IS A STORY (so 'lives' are multiple narratives).
Practice
Quiz
In the sentence 'He lives a solitary life,' how is 'lives' pronounced?