What are the definitions of “live out”?
Learn how to use these expressions through these examples
- 1Stay somewhere until you die.
She LIVED OUT her final years in a nursing home.
- 2Fulfill an ambition or fantasy.
Many parents try to LIVE OUT their dreams through their children.
- 3Not live at the place where you study or work.
In my final year at university I LIVED OUT with some friends in a flat we rented.
What’s the most common meaning of the phrasal verb “live out”?
The most common meaning of the phrasal verb live out is to not live at the place where you study or work. For example, it can mean living in a rented apartment while attending university or living in a separate location from your workplace.
What are the different verb forms of “live out”?
| Root Verb | live out |
| Third Person Singular Present | lives out |
| Present Participle | living out |
| Simple Past | lived out |
| Past Participle | lived out |
Example
In college, she decided to live out with her friends in an apartment.
Example
He lives out and commutes to work every day.
Example
They are living out their college years in a shared house.
Example
Last year, he lived out while working in a different city.
Example
She had lived out during her time at university.
What kind of phrasal verb is “live out”?
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a transitive and intransitive verb? - A transitive verb always has an object after it. (Example: Sam bought a car.) - An intransitive verb never has an object.(Example: She laughed loudly.)
Intransitive verb
“live out” is an intransitive phrasal verb because it doesn't require an object to complete its meaning. It forms a complete sentence without an object.
Example
She lived out her final years in a nursing home.
Example
Many parents try to live out their dreams through their children.
Notes from a Native English Speaker
What is a separable and inseparable phrasal verb? - A “separable phrasal verb” can be separated with an object between the verb and particle. - An “inseparable phrasal verb” cannot be separated by an object.
Inseparable
“live out” is an inseparable phrasal verb. This means that you can’t place an object between the verb and the particle, otherwise, it changes the meaning of the phrasal verb.
Example
She lived out her final years in a nursing home.
Example
Many parents try to live out their dreams through their children.
What are common phrases and expressions that include the phrasal verb “live out”?
Good things to know
Does “live out” have an informal or formal tone?
Live out is a neutral phrasal verb that can be used in both informal and formal contexts. It is appropriate for everyday conversations, as well as more formal settings, depending on the specific context.
