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.
Fox, who has been living with Parkinson’s for more than 30 years, has been the subject of death hoaxes over the years.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
"He was just at my kitchen door talking about nightmares while me and my daughter were just sat in the living room writing Christmas cards and watching Christmas TV," said the victim's mother.
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026
"We are demanding a living wage now, because what Delcy Rodriguez said last night is a joke," Mariela Diaz, a 65-year-old retiree, declared.
From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026
For 20 years, the Ngogo chimps of Uganda’s Kibale National Park “were living the good life by being together,” Mitani said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026
She was maybe the meanest living woman in Indiana now that Miss Myrt was no more.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
