What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Believe vs Live - What's the difference?

believe | live |

As a verb believe

is (label) to accept as true, particularly without absolute certainty (ie, as opposed to knowing).

As a proper noun live is

, a variant of liv.

believe

English

Alternative forms

* beleeve (obsolete)

Verb

(believ)
  • (label) To accept as true, particularly without absolute certainty (i.e., as opposed to knowing)
  • (Here, the speaker merely accepts the accuracy of the conditional.)
  • * 1611 , (King James Version of the Bible), 1:1 :
  • Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us
  • *{{quote-magazine, date=2014-06-21, volume=411, issue=8892, magazine=(The Economist)
  • , title= Magician’s brain , passage=[Isaac Newton] was obsessed with alchemy. He spent hours copying alchemical recipes and trying to replicate them in his laboratory. He believed that the Bible contained numerological codes.}}
  • (label) To accept that someone is telling the truth.
  • (label) To have religious faith; to believe in a greater truth.
  • Usage notes

    * The transitive verb believe and the phrasal verb (m) are similar but can have very different implications. ** To “believe” someone or something means to accept specific pieces of information as truth: believe the news'', ''believe the lead witness . To “believe a complete stranger” means to accept a stranger's story with little evidence. ** To “believe in” someone or something means to hold confidence and trust in that person or concept: believe in liberty'', ''believe in God . To “believe in one's fellow man” means to place trust and confidence in mankind. * Meanings sometimes overlap. To believe in'' a religious text would also require affirming the truth of at least the major tenets. To ''believe a religious text might likewise imply placing one's confidence and trust in it, in addition to accepting its statements as facts.

    Derived terms

    * believable * believability * believer * believe in * believe it or not * believe one's eyes * believe you me * disbelieve * unbelievable * unbeliever

    Statistics

    * ----

    live

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) liven, from (etyl) ), Dutch ''leven'', Old High German ''leb?n]]'' (German ''leben''), Old Norse ''lifa'' (Swedish ''leva ), Gothic [[???????????????????? (liban).

    Verb

    (liv)
  • (lb) To be alive; to have life.
  • :
  • (lb) To have permanent residence somewhere, to inhabit, to reside.
  • :
  • *
  • *:Athelstan Arundel walked home all the way, foaming and raging. No omnibus, cab, or conveyance ever built could contain a young man in such a rage. His mother lived at Pembridge Square, which is four good measured miles from Lincoln's Inn.
  • *, chapter=10
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers.}}
  • (lb) To survive; to persevere; to continue.
  • :
  • To cope.
  • :
  • (lb) To spend, as one's life; to pass; to maintain; to continue in, constantly or habitually.
  • :
  • *
  • *{{quote-news, year=2011, date=December 19, author=Kerry Brown, title= Kim Jong-il obituary, work=The Guardian
  • , passage=By 1980, South Korea had overtaken its northern neighbour, and was well on its way to being one of the Asian tigers – high-performing economies, with democratic movements ultimately winning power in the 1990s. The withdrawal of most Soviet aid in 1991, with the fall of the Soviet empire, pushed North Korea further down. Kim Il-sung had held a genuine place on North Korean people's affections. His son was regarded as a shadowy playboy, with rumours circulating over the years that he imported Russian and Chinese prostitutes, and lived a life of profligacy and excess.}}
  • *{{quote-magazine, title= Towards the end of poverty
  • , date=2013-06-01, volume=407, issue=8838, page=11, magazine=(The Economist) , passage=But poverty’s scourge is fiercest below $1.25 (the average of the 15 poorest countries’ own poverty lines, measured in 2005 dollars and adjusted for differences in purchasing power): people below that level live lives that are poor, nasty, brutish and short.}}
  • (lb) To act habitually in conformity with; to practice.
  • *(John Foxe) (1516/7-1587)
  • *:to live the Gospel
  • *
  • To outlast danger; to float; said of a ship, boat, etc.
  • :
  • *(William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
  • *:a strong mast that lived upon the sea
  • Derived terms
    * live and die * live and let live * live down * live for the day * live in sin * live in the past * live large * live off * live on * live on the edge * live out * live over * live over the brush * live the dream * live up * live with * long live * outlive * overlive * relive
    See also
    * abide * dwell * reside * stay

    Etymology 2

    See alive

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (only used attributively) Having life; that is alive.
  • The post office will not ship live animals.
  • Being in existence; actual
  • He is a live example of the consequences of excessive drinking.
  • Having active properties; being energized.
  • Operational; being in actual use rather than in testing.
  • (engineering) Imparting power; having motion.
  • the live spindle of a lathe
  • (sports) Still in active play.
  • a live ball
  • (broadcasting) Seen or heard from a broadcast, as it happens.
  • The station presented a live news program every evening.
  • Of a performance or speech, in person.
  • This nightclub has a live band on weekends.
  • Of a recorded performance, made in front of an audience, or not having been edited after recording.
  • Of firearms or explosives, capable of causing harm.
  • The air force practices dropping live bombs on the uninhabited island.
  • (circuitry) Electrically charged or energized, usually indicating that the item may cause electrocution if touched.
  • Use caution when working near live wires.
  • (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.
  • Featuring humans; not animated, in the phrases “live actors” or “live action”.
  • Being in a state of ignition; burning.
  • a live''' coal; '''live embers
  • (obsolete) Full of earnestness; active; wide awake; glowing.
  • a live man, or orator
  • (obsolete) Vivid; bright.
  • * Thomson
  • the live carnation
    Usage notes
    * Live'' in the sense of "having life" is used only attributively (before a noun), as in "live animals". Predicatively (after the noun), ''alive'' is used, as in "be alive". ''Living may be used either attributively or predicatively.
    Synonyms
    * (having life) living, alive * (electrically charged) hot * (in person) in person, in the flesh
    Antonyms
    * (having life) dead * (capable of causing harm) blank, dummy * (electrically charged) neutral, dead * (as it happens) recorded, prerecorded * (in person) broadcast * (featuring humans) animated
    Derived terms
    * lively * live one * live rail * live wire
    Compounds
    * live actors * live action * live album * live broadcast * live recording

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • Of an event, as it happens; in real time; direct.
  • The concert was broadcast live by radio.
  • Of making a performance or speech, in person.
  • ''He'll be appearing live at the auditorium.

    Statistics

    *