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.
Zug is even more beautiful today, with a high standard of living and broad cultural possibilities.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
The latest setback to world growth has reinforced the World Bank’s expectation that the 2020s will see little progress for developing economies in their efforts to catch up with the living standards of rich nations.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
At a time when people are already struggling with the cost of living, she says that risks "locking people out of care altogether" and is why ministers must urgently reform the "broken NHS system".
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
But Justin Chukwu, 56, said he had been living fully legally in South Africa for nearly 30 years.
From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026
As a living organism becomes more complex, its cells differentiate—that is, they specialize.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
