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.
Hoan worked from the same slab of concrete for a decade, eking out a modest living hawking colourful bouquets.
From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026
The ECB is widely expected to raise interest rates in June, with a tight labor market potentially supporting wage demands—a key driver of inflation—as workers seek compensation for higher living and energy costs.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 1, 2026
Gemma said her degree was worth it, taking her from a low-income background into a job where she now earns just under £50,000 a year, but living with the loan is "draining".
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
“It’s about someone who’s living in their own world and doesn’t see how it’s affecting the rest of the world,” Domrose says.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2026
“My sister does,” Mutti said, “with her husband. But they have gone away. We’re living here now, me, my daughter and my two sons. My husband is away fighting the Russians.”
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
