Synonyms of alive

alive

adjective

ə-ˈlīv 

1

as in breathing

having or showing life

we were relieved to find that the little bird was still alive after crashing into the plate glass window

Synonyms & Similar Words

• breathing
• live
• animate
• living
• active
• thriving
• animated
• lively
• surviving
• vibrant
• resurrected
• dynamic
• quick
• going
• vivacious
• existing
• vigorous
• existent
• vital
• current
• extant
• prevailing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dead
• deceased
• dying
• cold
• expired
• departed
• lifeless
• inanimate
• asleep
• breathless
• defunct
• moribund
• fading
• nonliving
• gone
• stillborn
• resting
• absent
• vanished
• extinct
• terminated
• ghostly
• finished
• lost
• fallen
• nonexistent
• ghostlike
• wiped out
• lapsed
• barren
• desert
• reposing
• perished
• zombielike
• ghosty

2

as in buzzing

marked by much life, movement, or activity

the mall was alive with holiday shoppers

Synonyms & Similar Words

• buzzing
• busy
• thriving
• vibrant
• humming
• lively
• crowded
• populous
• abuzz
• bustling
• flourishing
• happening
• brisk
• animated
• kinetic
• stirring
• rousing
• abubble
• astir
• aboil
• hopping
• teeming
• swarming
• overflowing
• abounding
• thronging

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dead
• inactive
• lifeless
• sleepy
• asleep

3

as in operating

being in effective operation

kept the cause of peace alive despite severe setbacks in relations between the two nations

Synonyms & Similar Words

• operating
• operational
• operative
• functioning
• going
• running
• active
• live
• on
• working
• in force
• operable
• functional
• in commission
• living
• viable
• on line
• effective
• in gear
• producing
• employable
• useful
• effectual
• flourishing
• serving
• thriving
• performing
• usable
• humming
• productive
• busy
• workable
• dynamic
• yielding
• bustling
• roaring
• astir

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dead
• broken
• inactive
• inoperative
• nonfunctional
• nonfunctioning
• useless
• nonoperative
• ineffective
• nonactivated
• nonoperational
• ineffectual
• kaput
• arrested
• nonoperating
• deactivated
• dormant
• decommissioned
• lifeless
• unusable
• inert
• inoperable
• idle
• latent
• unworkable
• quiescent
• asleep
• sleepy
• fallow
• unproductive
• nonproductive
• stagnating
• vegetating

4

as in existing

having being at the present time

describes her boyfriend as the sweetest guy alive

Synonyms & Similar Words

• existing
• extant
• existent
• living
• active
• operating
• functioning
• busy
• around
• working
• flourishing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dead
• extinct
• destroyed
• gone
• defunct
• departed
• lost
• nonextant
• exterminated
• nonexistent
• inactive
• kaput
• inert
• idle

5

as in aware

having specified facts or feelings actively impressed on the mind

alive to the need for major improvements in the school system

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aware
• conscious
• cognizant
• sentient
• mindful
• apprehensive
• ware
• regardful
• sensible
• wary
• vigilant
• careful
• cautious
• witting
• watchful
• attentive
• safe
• alert
• wide-awake
• observant
• heedful
• open-eyed
• hyperaware
• hyperconscious

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unconscious
• unaware
• oblivious
• unmindful
• insensible
• unwitting
• careless
• heedless
• unguarded
• mindless
• inattentive
• unwary
• incautious
• unheeding

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective alive contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of alive are awake, aware, cognizant, conscious, and sensible. While all these words mean "having knowledge of something," alive adds to sensible the implication of acute sensitivity to something.

alive to the thrill of danger

When could awake be used to replace alive?

In some situations, the words awake and alive are roughly equivalent. However, awake implies that one has become alive to something and is on the alert.

a country always awake to the threat of invasion

Where would aware be a reasonable alternative to alive?

While in some cases nearly identical to alive, aware implies vigilance in observing or alertness in drawing inferences from what one experiences.

aware of changes in climate

When would cognizant be a good substitute for alive?

While the synonyms cognizant and alive are close in meaning, cognizant implies having special or certain knowledge as from firsthand sources.

not fully cognizant of the facts

When can conscious be used instead of alive?

The words conscious and alive can be used in similar contexts, but conscious implies that one is focusing one's attention on something or is even preoccupied by it.

conscious that my heart was pounding

When is sensible a more appropriate choice than alive?

Although the words sensible and alive have much in common, sensible implies direct or intuitive perceiving especially of intangibles or of emotional states or qualities.

sensible of a teacher's influence

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of alive

Video and eyewitness accounts indicated that Urán had left the burning building alive and injured, escorted by soldiers. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2026

Having this record keep up with the way my life moves in real time and still feel so alive is special. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2026

The game was an instant classic, with Gators defensive end Jarvis Moss blocking a potential game-winning field goal to preserve the 17-16 win for Florida, and keep their BCS title game hopes alive in the process. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026

Cal Raleigh had two hits and three RBIs, Josh Naylor had two hits and two RBIs and the Seattle Mariners kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 7-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night. — ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing alive

• eat alive