1. To survive until one is a certain age. In this war-torn region of the world, it is uncommon for most people to live to 40. My grandmother smoked a pack of cigarettes a day and lived to 94 years of age.

2. To live long enough to experience or accomplish something. Typically followed by "see (something)." I hope I live to see the tiny Russian village where my great-great-grandfather was born. I'm just happy my mother lived to see that terrible law finally be repealed.

3. To exist with the sole or primary purpose of doing something. I live to play music—if I wasn't able to do that, I just don't know how I'd survive. Sometimes it feels like my dad only lives to work, because we barely see him at home.