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.
She’s now living in a tent on Avalon Boulevard with her dog, Zara.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026
Evergrande's rise was propelled by decades of rapid urbanisation and rising living standards, but in 2020, its access to credit dramatically narrowed when the government introduced curbs on excessive borrowing and speculation.
From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026
Several living areas offer guests the perfect place to lounge and come complete with multiple cozy fireplaces for the frigid New York winters.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026
"We can study animals living natural lives, with natural diets and gut bacteria, while still being able to collect detailed data from known individuals."
From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 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
