living
Usage
What are other ways to say living?
Living and livelihood (a somewhat more formal word), both refer to what one earns to keep (oneself) alive, but are seldom interchangeable within the same phrase: to earn one's living; to threaten one's livelihood. “To make a living” suggests making just enough to keep alive, and is particularly frequent in the negative: You cannot make a living out of that. “To make a livelihood out of something” suggests rather making a business of it: to make a livelihood out of knitting hats. Maintenance refers usually to what is spent for the living of another: to provide for the maintenance of someone. Maintenance occasionally refers to the allowance itself provided for livelihood: They are entitled to a maintenance from this estate.
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.
The four women and nine children, who had been living in Roj camp in Syria, are expected to land in Sydney and Melbourne airports on Thursday, according to local media.
From Barron's • May 6, 2026
The drop in Beyond Meat’s stock price follows an extended stretch of weaker demand for its products, as consumers dealing with higher living costs have steered clear of more expensive plant-based meat alternatives.
From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026
In their hands “Antigone” is sometimes relocated, as in Alexander Zeldin’s Sophocles-inspired “The Other Place,” to an ordinary living room.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026
After undergoing an assessment and familiarisation process in early 2023 he was adopted and began living with the defendants on 1 April at their home.
From BBC • May 6, 2026
Hours ago, Clare had told Gingersnipes that nearly every living thing had a soul.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
