live to

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live to

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 I'm just happy my mother lived to see that terrible law finally be repealed.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.

live to do something

1. to survive long enough to do something. I just hope I live to see them get married and have children. Bill wants to live to see his grandchildren grow up.

2. to exist only to do something. He lives to work. One shouldn't live to eat.