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."
separable
live out
B2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To actually experience something in real life, often a dream or fantasy, or to spend the rest of one's life in a place or condition.
In plain English
To make a dream or fantasy happen in real life, or to spend the rest of your life somewhere.
What does "live out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
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."
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."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To take something out of imagination and into lived reality — or to live outside a place of work.
Actually means
To make a dream or fantasy happen in real life, or to spend the rest of your life somewhere.
Usage tip
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.
Words that pair with "live out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
fantasy dream days retirement years childhood dreams
How to conjugate "live out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "live out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "live out" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "live out"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.