earn a living

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But their dad worries that it is becoming impossible to earn a living out of milk.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

“If I can’t earn a living because the price of gasoline keeps rising, I’ll have to dock the boat,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

If machines can perform most economically valuable work better than humans can, how do people earn a living and support their families?

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

It impacts their ability to earn a living, which then impacts the ability to spend and to go about their daily lives.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 25, 2025

I agreed because I didn’t want to offend them by pushing too hard for what I felt was a nicer way to earn a living.

From "The Bridge Home" by Padma Venkatraman