Exist vs. Live — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 28, 2024
"Exist" refers to having objective reality or being, regardless of quality of life, while "live" implies an active engagement in life, often with a particular quality or purpose.
Difference Between Exist and Live
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
"Exist" generally means to have actual being or to be real, focusing on the mere presence of an entity or individual in the world. Whereas "live" goes beyond mere existence by implying a certain quality or purpose to one's life, such as thriving or experiencing.
Existence can be applied to any object, concept, or living thing, indicating simply that it is present in reality. On the other hand, to live is primarily used with living things, particularly humans and animals, suggesting actions, experiences, and interactions in an environment.
While "exist" can be used in philosophical or existential contexts to discuss the nature of being or reality itself, "live" often appears in contexts discussing lifestyle, health, or activities, emphasizing the dynamic aspects of being.
"Exist" does not necessarily imply any judgment about the condition or state of being, merely acknowledging that something is. Live, however, often carries connotations of a certain quality of life, such as happiness, fulfillment, or activity.
In discussing non-biological entities, "exist" is more appropriate; we might say a country, a thought, or a digital file exists. In contrast, "live" would not typically be used unless personifying such entities, focusing instead on living organisms and their interaction with life.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To have actual being or reality
To be alive, experiencing life actively
Usage Context
Philosophical, general presence
Life quality, activities
Applicable Entities
Any object or concept
Primarily living organisms
Connotation
Neutral, simply being
Quality, purposeful existence
Example Context
"Do ghosts really exist?"
"She wants to live fully and joyously."
Compare with Definitions
Exist
To have life; be alive (used very broadly).
Anything that exists has a place in the universe.
Live
To experience and participate actively in life.
She lives every moment with zest.
Exist
To have reality or substance.
Scientists debate whether certain particles truly exist.
Live
To have life, be alive.
Only one survivor lived after the accident.
Exist
To be present under certain conditions or during a specific time.
That law exists in many countries.
Live
To conduct one's life in a particular way.
He lives according to his principles.
Exist
To occupy space or a place.
The files exist on the server.
Live
To remain alive or in existence.
Her memory lives on through her music.
Exist
To continue to be; persist.
The old traditions still exist in rural areas.
Live
To reside or dwell.
They live in a remote village.
Exist
To have actual being; be real.
Live
Remain alive
Both cats lived to a ripe age
The doctors said she had only six months to live
Exist
To have life; live
One of the worst actors that ever existed.
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
Exist
To live at a minimal level; subsist
Barely enough income on which to exist.
Live
Not dead or inanimate; living
Live animals
Exist
To continue to be; persist
Old customs that still exist in rural areas.
Live
Relating to a musical performance given in concert, not on a recording
There is traditional live music played most nights
A live album
Exist
To be present under certain circumstances or in a specified place; occur
"Wealth and poverty exist in every demographic category" (Thomas G. Exter).
Live
(of a wire or device) connected to a source of electric current.
Exist
To be; have existence; have being or reality
Live
(of a question or subject) of current or continuing interest and importance
The future organization of Europe has become a live issue
Exist
To be as a fact and not as a mode; to have an actual or real being, whether material or spiritual.
Who now, alas! no more is missedThan if he never did exist.
To conceive the world . . . to have existed from eternity.
Live
As or at an actual event or performance
The match will be televised live
Exist
To be manifest in any manner; to continue to be; as, great evils existed in his reign.
Live
To be alive; exist.
Exist
To live; to have life or the functions of vitality; as, men can not exist in water, nor fishes on land.
Live
To continue to be alive
Lived through a bad accident.
Exist
Have an existence, be extant;
Is there a God?
Live
To support oneself; subsist
Living on rice and fish.
Lives on a small inheritance.
Exist
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
To reside; dwell
Lives on a farm.
Live
To conduct one's life in a particular manner
Lived frugally.
Live
To pursue a positive, satisfying existence; enjoy life
Those who truly live.
Live
To remain in human memory
An event that lives on in our minds.
Live
To spend or pass (one's life).
Live
To go through; experience
Lived a nightmare.
Live
To practice in one's life
Live one's beliefs.
Live
Having life; alive
Live animals.
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.
Live
Of current interest or relevance
A live topic.
Still a live option.
Live
(Informal) Full of life, excitement, or activity; lively
A live crowd at the parade.
A live party.
Live
Glowing; burning
Live coals.
Live
Not yet exploded but capable of being fired
Live ammunition.
Live
(Electricity) Carrying an electric current or energized with electricity
Live cables lying dangerously on the ground.
Live
Not mined or quarried; in the natural state
Live ore.
Live
Broadcast while actually being performed; not taped, filmed, or recorded
A live television program.
Live
Involving performers or spectators who are physically present
Live entertainment.
A live audience.
Live
Of, relating to, or containing living bacteria or active viruses, sometimes in an attenuated form
Live yogurt cultures.
A live measles vaccine.
Live
(Printing) Not yet set into type
Live copy.
Live
(Sports) In play
A live ball.
Live
At, during, or from the time of actual occurrence or performance
The landing on the moon was telecast live.
Live
(intransitive) To be alive; to have life.
He's not expected to live for more than a few months.
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.
Live
(of an object) to have its proper place; to normally be stored.
I washed your gravy boat. Where does it live?
Live
(intransitive) To survive; to persevere; to continue.
Live
(intransitive) To endure in memory; to escape oblivion.
Her memory lives in that song.
Live
To cope.
You'll just have to live with it!
I can't live in a world without you.
Live
(intransitive) To pass life in a specified manner.
It is difficult to live in poverty.
And they lived happily ever after.
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.
Live
(transitive) To act habitually in conformity with; to practice; to exemplify in one's way of life.
Live
To live as; to live being.
Live
(intransitive) To outlast danger; to float (said of a ship, boat, etc).
No ship could live in such a storm.
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.
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!
Live
(only used attributively) Having life; that is alive.
The post office will not ship live animals.
Live
Being in existence; actual.
He is a live example of the consequences of excessive drinking.
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
Can all things that live also exist?
Yes, all living things exist, but not all things that exist are living.
Do concepts live?
Concepts do not live; they exist as mental or abstract entities.
How do humans typically use the concept of existence?
Humans discuss existence in many contexts, from philosophical to everyday practicality.
Can a business live?
Metaphorically, a business can be said to live when it is active and thriving.
What does it mean to exist?
To exist means to have actual being or to be real in any form.
Is existing the same as being alive?
For objects, existing is simply being; for organisms, being alive includes existing but also encompasses biological processes.
What does it mean to live?
To live implies having life, being active, and engaging in experiences.
Is it possible to exist without being aware of existence?
Yes, inanimate objects or concepts exist without self-awareness.
What is the difference between existing and surviving?
Existing is simply being, while surviving implies continuing to live despite hardships.
What does it mean when a tradition no longer exists?
It means the tradition is no longer practiced or acknowledged.
How do animals show that they live and not just exist?
Animals show they live by interacting with their environment and exhibiting behaviors directed towards survival and reproduction.
What kind of existence do digital entities have?
Digital entities exist in electronic form within digital environments.
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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
Maham Liaqat
