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.
I am 42 and have two living children.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026
Residents living close to the North Korean border expressed hope for greater openness from Pyongyang.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
Luxe amenities include four guest suites and an outdoor living area with a pool and spa, cabana, and kitchen.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026
A visit to Odesa and Kyiv reveals a country anxious to stop the killing and determined to keep living.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
Summoned by the humans’ celebration, the Afterlife surged and swelled, straining the seam between the living and the dead.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
