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 impact of this lobbying is far-reaching, the report said, "from the cost of living, to worsening climate disasters, from rollback of chemicals regulations and our digital rights".
From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026
Residents living in these areas are advised to stay indoors where possible — especially people with respiratory or heart disease, elderly individuals and children.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
Within hours, Dedic, a businessman living in Ealing, had left the UK on the Eurostar and returned to his native country of Bosnia.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
In May, for the second straight month, the cost of living grew faster than wages.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 10, 2026
He climbs the steps of the Cavendish hotel, where he has been living, and takes a seat on the porch beside his landlord, Joseph Adams.
From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman
