Live vs. Living — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on April 22, 2024
"Live" primarily functions as a verb or adjective related to real-time events or life, whereas "living" is a gerund or adjective focusing on the state or manner of being alive.
Difference Between Live and Living
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Live" is used as a verb to mean to exist or reside, such as in "I live in New York." On the other hand, "living" when used as a gerund (verb form acting as a noun), focuses on the act of being alive, as in "Living in New York is exciting."
As an adjective, "live" describes something as happening in real-time or being active, such as "live television." Conversely, "living" as an adjective relates to something that possesses life or is currently in the state of life, like "living organisms."
"Live" can also convey the immediacy of an experience or event, emphasizing real-time interaction, like "live coverage of an event." Meanwhile, "living" emphasizes ongoing processes or conditions, as in "living conditions."
When discussing performances or broadcasts, "live" implies that an audience is experiencing the event as it happens, such as "a live concert." In contrast, "living" does not typically apply to events but rather to a continual state, like "living traditions."
The word "live" may be used to describe something with potential energy or activity, like "live wires." In contrast, "living" would be used to describe something sustaining life, such as "living standards."
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Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Verb, adjective
Gerund, adjective
Focus
Real-time events, existence
State or manner of being alive
Common Usage
Live broadcast, live concert
Living conditions, living organisms
Immediacy
Emphasizes real-time presence
Emphasizes ongoing life process
Energy or Activity
Used to describe potential activity
Used to describe life sustenance
Compare with Definitions
Live
As a verb, to reside in a place.
They live in a small village.
Living
As an adjective, having life.
Plants are living organisms.
Live
As an adjective, occurring at the moment of speaking.
The game is broadcast live.
Living
Pertaining to a way of life.
They had difficulty adjusting to the high living costs.
Live
Used to describe broadcasts seen in real-time.
She watched the live news update.
Living
As a gerund, the state of being alive.
Living in the city is exhilarating.
Live
Relating to something active or charged.
Caution is advised near live electrical wires.
Living
Supporting oneself financially.
He makes a living as a freelance artist.
Live
Involving direct and immediate execution.
The band plays better in live performances.
Living
Continuing from the past to the present.
This is one of the region's living traditions.
Live
Remain alive
Both cats lived to a ripe age
The doctors said she had only six months to live
Living
Possessing life
Famous living painters.
Transplanted living tissue.
Live
Make one's home in a particular place or with a particular person
I've lived in the East End all my life
They lived with his grandparents
Living
In active function or use
A living language.
Live
Not dead or inanimate; living
Live animals
Living
Of persons who are alive
Events within living memory.
Live
Relating to a musical performance given in concert, not on a recording
There is traditional live music played most nights
A live album
Living
Relating to the routine conduct or maintenance of life
Improved living conditions in the city.
Live
(of a wire or device) connected to a source of electric current.
Living
Full of life, interest, or vitality
Made history a living subject.
Live
(of a question or subject) of current or continuing interest and importance
The future organization of Europe has become a live issue
Living
True to life; realistic
The living image of her mother.
Live
As or at an actual event or performance
The match will be televised live
Living
Still in place as part of a larger mass. Used especially of rock
“In a great hall with pillars hewn out of the living stone sat the Elvenking on a chair of carven wood” (J. R. R. Tolkien). “Carved into a sandstone cliff face towered over by 18,000-foot peaks stood the colossal Buddhas.
Live
To be alive; exist.
Living
Having motion suggestive of life. Used especially of water
“The rippling of living waters, the song of birds, the joyous confidence of flowers, the calm, undisturbable grandeur of the oaks, mark this place ... as one of the Lord's most favored abodes of life and light” (John Muir).
Live
To continue to be alive
Lived through a bad accident.
Living
(Informal) Used as an intensive
Beat the living hell out of his opponent in the boxing match.
Live
To support oneself; subsist
Living on rice and fish.
Lives on a small inheritance.
Living
The condition or action of maintaining life
The high cost of living.
Live
To reside; dwell
Lives on a farm.
Living
A manner or style of life
Preferred plain living.
Live
To conduct one's life in a particular manner
Lived frugally.
Living
A means of maintaining life; livelihood
Made their living by hunting.
Live
To pursue a positive, satisfying existence; enjoy life
Those who truly live.
Living
Chiefly British A church benefice, including the revenue attached to it.
Live
To remain in human memory
An event that lives on in our minds.
Living
Present participle of live
Live
To spend or pass (one's life).
Living
Having life; alive.
A living, breathing child
Respect for the dead does not preclude respect for the living.
Live
To go through; experience
Lived a nightmare.
Living
In use or existing.
Hunanese is a living language.
Live
To practice in one's life
Live one's beliefs.
Living
Of everyday life.
These living conditions are deplorable.
Live
Having life; alive
Live animals.
Living
True to life.
This is the living image of Fidel Castro.
Live
Of, related to, or occurring during the life of one that is living
A live birth.
The live weight of an animal before being slaughtered.
Living
Of rock or stone, existing in its original state and place.
Live
Of current interest or relevance
A live topic.
Still a live option.
Living
Continually updated; not static
HTML is a living standard.
Live
(Informal) Full of life, excitement, or activity; lively
A live crowd at the parade.
A live party.
Living
Used as an intensifier.
He almost beat the living daylights out of me.
Live
Glowing; burning
Live coals.
Living
(uncountable) The state of being alive.
Live
Not yet exploded but capable of being fired
Live ammunition.
Living
Financial means; a means of maintaining life; livelihood
What do you do for a living?
Live
(Electricity) Carrying an electric current or energized with electricity
Live cables lying dangerously on the ground.
Living
A style of life.
Plain living
Live
Not mined or quarried; in the natural state
Live ore.
Living
(canon law) A position in a church (usually the Church of England) that has attached to it a source of income; an ecclesiastical benefice.
Live
Broadcast while actually being performed; not taped, filmed, or recorded
A live television program.
Living
Being alive; having life; as, a living creature. Opposed to dead.
Live
Involving performers or spectators who are physically present
Live entertainment.
A live audience.
Living
Active; lively; vigorous; - said esp. of states of the mind, and sometimes of abstract things; as, a living faith; a living principle.
Live
Of, relating to, or containing living bacteria or active viruses, sometimes in an attenuated form
Live yogurt cultures.
A live measles vaccine.
Living
Issuing continually from the earth; running; flowing; as, a living spring; - opposed to stagnant.
Live
(Printing) Not yet set into type
Live copy.
Living
Producing life, action, animation, or vigor; quickening.
Live
(Sports) In play
A live ball.
Living
Ignited; glowing with heat; burning; live.
Then on the living coals wine they pour.
Live
At, during, or from the time of actual occurrence or performance
The landing on the moon was telecast live.
Living
The state of one who, or that which, lives; lives; life; existence.
Live
(intransitive) To be alive; to have life.
He's not expected to live for more than a few months.
Living
Manner of life; as, riotous living; penurious living; earnest living.
Live
(intransitive) To have permanent residence somewhere, to inhabit, to reside.
I live at 2a Acacia Avenue.
He lives in LA, but he's staying here over the summer.
Living
Means of subsistence; sustenance; estate; as, to make a comfortable living from writing.
She can spin for her living.
He divided unto them his living.
Live
(of an object) to have its proper place; to normally be stored.
I washed your gravy boat. Where does it live?
Living
Power of continuing life; the act of living, or living comfortably.
There is no living without trusting somebody or other in some cases.
Live
(intransitive) To survive; to persevere; to continue.
Living
The benefice of a clergyman; an ecclesiastical charge which a minister receives.
He could not get a deanery, a prebend, or even a living
Live
(intransitive) To endure in memory; to escape oblivion.
Her memory lives in that song.
Living
The experience of living; the course of human events and activities;
He could no longer cope with the complexities of life
Live
To cope.
You'll just have to live with it!
I can't live in a world without you.
Living
People who are still living;
Save your pity for the living
Live
(intransitive) To pass life in a specified manner.
It is difficult to live in poverty.
And they lived happily ever after.
Living
The condition of living or the state of being alive;
While there's life there's hope
Life depends on many chemical and physical processes
Live
(transitive) To spend, as one's life; to pass; to maintain; to continue in, constantly or habitually.
To live an idle or a useful life.
Living
The financial means whereby one lives;
Each child was expected to pay for their keep
He applied to the state for support
He could no longer earn his own livelihood
Live
(transitive) To act habitually in conformity with; to practice; to exemplify in one's way of life.
Living
Pertaining to living persons;
Within living memory
Live
To live as; to live being.
Living
True to life; lifelike;
The living image of her mother
Live
(intransitive) To outlast danger; to float (said of a ship, boat, etc).
No ship could live in such a storm.
Living
Dwelling or inhabiting; often used in combination;
Living quarters
Tree-living animals
Live
To maintain or support one's existence; to provide for oneself; to feed; to subsist.
It is hard to live on the minimum wage.
They lived on stale bread.
Man shall not live by bread alone.
Living
(informal) absolute;
She is a living doll
Scared the living daylights out of them
Beat the living hell out of him
Live
To make the most of life; to experience a full, rich life.
I'm sick of spending every day studying at home: I want to go out there and live!
Living
Still in existence;
The Wollemi pine found in Australia is a surviving specimen of a conifer thought to have been long extinct and therefore known as a living fossil
The only surviving frontier blockhouse in Pennsylvania
Live
(only used attributively) Having life; that is alive.
The post office will not ship live animals.
Living
Still in active use;
A living language
Live
Being in existence; actual.
He is a live example of the consequences of excessive drinking.
Living
(used of minerals or stone) in its natural state and place; not mined or quarried;
Carved into the living stone
Live
Having active properties; being energized.
Because the vaccinia virus is live, it is important to follow care instructions for the vaccination site.
Live
Operational; in actual use rather than in testing etc.
Live
(programming) Of an object or value: that may potentially be used in the future execution of a program.
Live
Taken from a living animal.
Live feathers
Live
(engineering) Imparting power; having motion.
The live spindle of a lathe
A live, or driving, axle
Live
(sports) Still in active play.
A live ball
Live
(card games) Of a card: not yet dealt or played.
Live
(broadcasting) Being broadcast ("on the air"), as it happens.
The station presented a live news program every evening.
Are we live?
Live
(of a performance or speech) In person.
This nightclub has a live band on weekends.
Live
Recorded from a performance in front of an audience.
A live album
Live
Of firearms or explosives, capable of causing harm.
The air force practices dropping live bombs on the uninhabited island.
Live
Of an environment where sound is recorded: having noticeable reverberation.
Live
(circuitry) Electrically charged or energized, usually indicating that the item may cause electrocution if touched.
Use caution when working near live wires.
Live
(poker) Being a bet which can be raised by the bettor, usually in reference to a blind or straddle.
Tommy's blind was live, so he was given the option to raise.
Live
(film) Featuring humans; not animated, in the phrases “live actors” or “live action”.
Live
Being in a state of ignition; burning.
A live coal; live embers
Live
(obsolete) Vivid; bright.
Live
(slang)
Live
(dated) Energetic, attentive, active.
A live man, or orator
Live
Outstanding, top-notch, exhilarating.
Live
Of an event, as it happens; in real time; direct.
The concert was broadcast live by radio.
Live
Of making a performance or speech, in person.
He'll be appearing live at the auditorium.
Live
To be alive; to have life; to have, as an animal or a plant, the capacity of assimilating matter as food, and to be dependent on such assimilation for a continuance of existence; as, animals and plants that live to a great age are long in reaching maturity.
Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will . . . lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live.
Live
To pass one's time; to pass life or time in a certain manner, as to habits, conduct, or circumstances; as, to live in ease or affluence; to live happily or usefully.
O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions!
Live
To make one's abiding place or home; to abide; to dwell; to reside; as, to live in a cottage by the sea.
Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years.
Live
To be or continue in existence; to exist; to remain; to be permanent; to last; - said of inanimate objects, ideas, etc.
Men's evil manners live in brass; their virtuesWe write in water.
Live
To enjoy or make the most of life; to be in a state of happiness; as, people want not just to exist, but to live.
What greater curse could envious fortune giveThan just to die when I began to live?
Live
To feed; to subsist; to be nourished or supported; - with on; as, horses live on grass and grain.
Live
To have a spiritual existence; to be quickened, nourished, and actuated by divine influence or faith.
The just shall live by faith.
Live
To be maintained in life; to acquire a livelihood; to subsist; - with on or by; as, to live on spoils.
Those who live by labor.
Live
To outlast danger; to float; - said of a ship, boat, etc.; as, no ship could live in such a storm.
A strong mast that lived upon the sea.
Live
To spend, as one's life; to pass; to maintain; to continue in, constantly or habitually; as, to live an idle or a useful life.
Live
To act habitually in conformity with; to practice.
To live the Gospel.
Live
Having life; alive; living; not dead.
If one man's ox hurt another's, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it.
Live
Being in a state of ignition; burning; having active properties; as, a live coal; live embers.
Live
Full of earnestness; active; wide awake; glowing; as, a live man, or orator.
Live
Vivid; bright.
Live
Imparting power; having motion; as, the live spindle of a lathe; live steam.
Live
Connected to a voltage source; as, a live wire.
Live
Being transmitted instantaneously, as events occur, in contrast to recorded.
Live
Still in active play; - of a ball being used in a game; as, a live ball.
Live
Pertaining to an entertainment event which was performed (and possibly recorded) in front of an audience; contrasted to performances recorded in a studio without an audience.
Live
Life.
Live
Make one's home or live in;
She resides officially in Iceland
I live in a 200-year old house
These people inhabited all the islands that are now deserted
The plains are sparsely populated
Live
Lead a certain kind of life; live in a certain style;
We had to live frugally after the war
Live
Continue to live; endure or last;
We went without water and food for 3 days
These superstitions survive in the backwaters of America
The racecar driver lived through several very serious accidents
Live
Support oneself;
He could barely exist on such a low wage
Can you live on $2000 a month in New York City?
Many people in the world have to subsist on $1 a day
Live
Have life, be alive;
Our great leader is no more
My grandfather lived until the end of war
Live
Have firsthand knowledge of states, situations, emotions, or sensations;
I know the feeling!
Have you ever known hunger?
I have lived a kind of hell when I was a drug addict
The holocaust survivors have lived a nightmare
I lived through two divorces
Live
Pursue a positive and satisfying existence;
You must accept yourself and others if you really want to live
Live
Actually being performed at the time of hearing or viewing;
A live television program
Brought to you live from Lincoln Center
Live entertainment involves performers actually in the physical presence of a live audience
Live
Showing characteristics of life; exerting force or containing energy;
Live coals
Tossed a live cigarette out the window
Got a shock from a live wire
Live ore is unmined ore
A live bomb
A live ball is one in play
Live
Highly reverberant;
A live concert hall
Live
Charged with an explosive;
Live ammunition
A live bomb
Live
Rebounds readily;
Clean bouncy hair
A lively tennis ball
As resiliant as seasoned hickory
Springy turf
Live
Abounding with life and energy;
The club members are a really live bunch
Live
In current use or ready for use;
Live copy is ready to be set in type or already set but not yet proofread
Live
Of current relevance;
A live issue
Still a live option
Live
Charged or energized with electricity;
A hot wire
A live wire
Live
Having life;
A live canary
Hit a live nerve
Famous living painters
Living tissue
Live
Capable of erupting;
A live volcano
The volcano is very much alive
Live
Not recorded;
The opera was broadcast live
Common Curiosities
How does 'live' function as an adjective?
As an adjective, "live" describes events that are happening in the present moment, such as live performances.
What are 'living conditions'?
"Living conditions" refer to the environment and circumstances in which people reside and its impact on their quality of life.
What is the difference between live music and recorded music?
Live music is performed in real-time before an audience, while recorded music is played back from a recording.
What does it mean when something is broadcast live?
It means the broadcast is transmitted in real-time, without delays or prerecordings.
How is 'living' used differently from 'live' in grammar?
"Living" is a gerund or adjective related to life, whereas "live" is a verb or adjective focusing on real-time actions or events.
Can 'live' describe something not involving people?
Yes, "live" can refer to any event or object involving real-time activity, like live TV or live electricity.
Is 'living' ever used to describe non-biological entities?
Rarely, except in metaphoric expressions like "living proof" or "living testament."
Why do people prefer live performances?
Many enjoy the immediacy and interactive experience of live performances.
What impact do living conditions have on health?
Poor living conditions can adversely affect health, while good conditions can promote well-being.
How do 'live' and 'living' relate to animals?
"Live" might describe animals seen in real-time, like in a live broadcast, while "living" refers to animals in terms of being alive and active.
Can 'living' refer to something that used to be but still has an impact?
Yes, in contexts like "living memory" or "living history," it refers to things from the past that continue to influence the present.
Can a documentary be live?
Yes, if it is being broadcast in real-time as the events unfold, it is considered live.
What does 'make a living' mean?
It means to earn money necessary for sustaining oneself.
How do live events differ from prerecorded ones?
Live events offer spontaneity and direct engagement, unlike prerecorded events which are fixed and edited.
How does 'live' enhance the viewing experience of sports?
"Live" sports events provide real-time excitement and unpredictability, enhancing the viewer's engagement.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
