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.
Across the world, policymakers living the real-world impact of a war on their doorsteps took a much more sober view of developments.
From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026
My parents’ and grandparents’ generations ran barefoot outside, eating and exposing themselves to things that transformed their microbiomes, the trillions of organisms living in and on their bodies that quietly kept them healthy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
“I would think of my profile as sort of a really cute living room/open garden. And people could come in and have a little cafecito, or a little tea and listen to poetry,” Martínez said.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026
He says he missed his independence after three years living with friends as a student on the south coast but felt he had no other choice.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026
The living room looked a little brighter than when he had left.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
