Is alive vs Living

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Is alive

Top 2,000 (common)

Living

Top 2,000 (common) B1 adjective

	Is alive	Living
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //ɪz əˈlaɪv// 🇺🇸 //ɪz əˈlaɪv//	🇬🇧 /["/ˈlɪvɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈlɪvɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	Living or not dead.	the act of being alive or having a life
Example	The patient is alive and recovering well.	She has a very living spirit that inspires everyone around her.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	-	B1
Part of speech		adjective
Collocations	is alive and well, keeps hope alive, is alive with possibilities	living expenses, living conditions, living arrangements, living space, living legend
Antonyms	-	dying, deceased, non-living
Common mistakes	Using 'is alive' even when referring to inanimate objects., Confusing 'alive' with 'living' in some contexts.	'Living' confused with 'live' when describing something happening in the present., Using 'living' incorrectly as a verb instead of a noun., Confusing 'living' with 'liveliness' when discussing energy.
Usage notes	Use 'is alive' when confirming someone's or something's existence. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts.	Use 'living' when talking about life in various contexts. Avoid in formal writing where more specific terms like 'existence' might be better.

See it in real clips

He's alive, and I'll show him to you.

That boy is alive.

Avengers › Avengers Endgame

Bucky is alive.

He's alive, and I'll show him to you.

That boy is alive.

Is alive

Back home, when I'd tell people what I do for a living,

The Pitt › S1 E1

Well, if you paid them a living wage,

The Wire › S1 E1

scaring the living shit out of every witness.

Back home, when I'd tell people what I do for a living,

The Pitt › S1 E1

Well, if you paid them a living wage,

Living

Frequently asked questions: Is alive vs Living

What's the difference between Is alive and Living?

Is alive: Living or not dead. Living: the act of being alive or having a life

Can you show an example of each?

Is alive: The patient is alive and recovering well. Living: She has a very living spirit that inspires everyone around her.

Can I use Is alive and Living interchangeably?

Not always. Is alive and Living are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.