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 Brettlers had no idea that, like Dickens’s John Harmon, their son was living under a false identity.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
Police say Damian A. made their lives "a living hell".
From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026
The women, are all living in the country without legal documents, including the street vendors from East Hollywood.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
DHS has boasted about instances when wellness checks reportedly helped a minor escape a dangerous living situation.
From Salon • Apr. 10, 2026
Ostensibly we were still an elderly watchmaker living with his two spinster daughters above his tiny shop.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
