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live out

B2 neutral separable both
In simple words

To make a dream or fantasy happen in real life, or to spend the rest of your life somewhere.

Literal meaning: To take something out of imagination and into lived reality — or to live outside a place of work.

Meanings

1 B2 idiomatic neutral

To make a dream, fantasy, or ambition actually happen in real life.

"He finally got the chance to live out his childhood dream of flying a plane."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 neutral

To spend the remaining part of one's life in a particular place or condition.

"He lived out his final years in a small cottage by the sea."

Grammar: separable
3 B2 neutral

(British English) To live outside the place where you work or study, rather than on the premises.

"In her second year, she decided to live out instead of staying in the university halls."

Usage notes

In British English, 'live out' also means to live outside your workplace (the opposite of 'live in'), used for domestic staff or students. In American English, the 'fulfil a fantasy/dream' sense is most common.

Commonly used with

fantasy dream days retirement years childhood dreams

Forms

Base
live out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lives out
he/she/it
Past simple
lived out
yesterday
Past participle
lived out
have + pp
-ing form
living out
continuous

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Synonyms

fulfil realise enact experience play out see through

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