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.
Newman also said snapping turtles would be unlikely to bite humans paddling in the water, but would target mammals living there such as water voles.
From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026
Cardellini: When I first started, I wondered if I would ever make a living at it.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
“A grand motor court welcomes you to a residence designed for elevated living and effortless entertaining.”
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
To test these assumptions, we analysed more than 500 teeth from 27 primate species, both extinct and living.
From Science Daily • Jun. 8, 2026
A filthy, ripped sofa piled with broken furniture and bags of garbage sits in the middle of the living area, a stained mattress propped up against its side.
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
