The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word ALIVE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
A
L
I
V
E
More clues leading to the result ALIVE
- Beer about four makes one animated?
- Four stuck into the drink — bubbly?
- A cut of meat, quick
- Top grade, as it happens, existing
- Animated answer, as it happens
- Four getting stuck into the drink — bubbly?
- Spirited US boxer versus European
- Still with us, a disease on the ascent
- Flipping bad acting gets you animated
- Vital answer’s not recorded
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "existing" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case existing = alive.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ALIVE mean?
ALIVE adjective- Having life; living; not dead
- In a state of action; in force or operation; existent
- Busy with activity of many living beings; swarming; thronged; busy.
- Sprightly; lively; brisk.
- Susceptible; easy to impress; having keen feelings, as opposed to apathy
- (as an intensifier) out of all living creatures.
- (only used attributively) Having life; that is alive.
- Being in existence; actual
- Having active properties; being energized.
- Operational; in actual use rather than in testing etc.
- Taken from a living animal.
- Imparting power; having motion.
- Still in active play.
- Seen or heard from a broadcast, as it happens.
- (of a performance or speech) In person.
- (entertainment, performing) Recorded in front of an audience and not having been edited after recording.
- Of firearms or explosives, capable of causing harm.
- (circuitry) Electrically charged or energized, usually indicating that the item may cause electrocution if touched.
- Being a bet which can be raised by the bettor, usually in reference to a blind or straddle.
- Featuring humans; not animated, in the phrases “live actors” or “live action”.
- Being in a state of ignition; burning.
- Full of earnestness; active; wide awake; glowing.
- Vivid; bright.