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.
"These are people who have fled the war in Sudan, and they are seeing the same things again and living the same things, it is overwhelming."
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
Ask the average person what homelessness looks like in America, and the answer invariably involves urban encampments—people with severe mental disabilities or serious addictions living in tents and squalor.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
Shrum said he doubts that message will resonate with enough voters to sway the race to Valadao “in an environment where the things people are worried about are the cost of living, the war.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026
They were living in rubble heaps, half-standing buildings, and abandoned army trucks.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
