Adjective
I was taught to respect all living things.
His aunt is his closest living relative.
He’s one of our greatest living authors.
It was the first time I had ever seen a living, breathing bear in the wild.
Noun
the challenges of city living
It’s summertime, and the living is easy.
the living and the dead
The world belongs to the living.
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Recent Examples on the Web
The result is a buyer’s and a seller’s market: smart countries can take their pick from the swarms of overeducated and under-employed youth, while young talent shuttle between co-working and co-living spaces in Mexico City, Dubai, and Bali.
—
Parag Khanna, Time, 24 Oct. 2022
Seated across from one another in a living-room setting, with a ficus plant and vinyl blinds covering the windows, Somerville and Moore discussed the DUI crash, Somerville’s emotional turmoil and his rocky last months at KTVU.
—Rachel Swan, San Francisco Chronicle, 29 Mar. 2023
Though formaldehyde does occur naturally in the environment and is present in small amounts in most living organisms, it is recognized as a carcinogen by International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as well as by the Department of Health and Human Services.
—Dori Price, Good Housekeeping, 24 Aug. 2022
Granted, some co-living projects are viewed as cash cows for real estate developers looking to maximize profits.
—Kimberley Mok, Treehugger, 1 Mar. 2023
Until recently, a photograph of Goldstein hung on the Ben-Gvirs’ living-room wall, at their home in the Kiryat Arba settlement in Hebron.
—Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, 20 Feb. 2023
Moreover, building a sense of community in such co-living arrangements can require a lot of effort.
—Kimberley Mok, Treehugger, 1 Mar. 2023
In effect, this version of stress is an element of daily life for most living things seeking security.
—Tree Meinch, Discover Magazine, 13 Feb. 2023
When pushed to the brink of their detection limits, the lab equipment analysis revealed a mixture of biosignatures that came from both extinct and living microorganisms.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 21 Feb. 2023
Set amid a rising cost-of-living crisis and impending recession, BAZAAR understands that the coronation will be less grand, and presumably cost less, than previous ceremonies.
—Chelsey Sanchez, Harper’s BAZAAR, 8 Apr. 2023
Outdoors rag rugs or upholstery for outdoor living areas.
—Elizabeth Waddington, Treehugger, 3 Apr. 2023
Listed with Alex Perry, the home ticks many boxes for discerning buyers, from the wine cellar to the pool and outdoor living areas.
—Allie Beth Allman & Associates, Dallas News, 2 Apr. 2023
With their oceanfront decks, private hot tubs, and spacious living areas, guests can enjoy the ultimate West Coast experience.
—Sandra Macgregor, Forbes, 1 Apr. 2023
The weather year-round is relatively warm, there’s a lower cost of living and there’s not any state income tax.
—James Barrett, ELLE Decor, 5 Apr. 2023
Ultimately, when journalists have to switch cities to earn enough to keep up with the cost of living, local residents lose a trusted source of reporting.
—Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2023
Most such proposals amount to benefit cuts; that would be the result of steps such as raising the retirement age, reducing payments to wealthier recipients, gutting cost-of-living increases and recalculating lifetime earnings.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2023
Orpo, who served as Finland’s finance minister from 2016 to 2019, has campaigned to prioritize the Finnish economy as the nation grapples with rising inflation and a cost-of-living crisis.
—Jennifer Hassan, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘living.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Defenition of the word living
- the condition of living or the state of being alive; «while there’s life there’s hope»; «life depends on many chemical and physical processes»
- the experience of living; the course of human events and activities; «he could no longer cope with the complexities of life»
- having life; «a live canary»; «hit a live nerve»; «famous living painters»; «living tissue»; «living plants and animals»
- (intensifier) «she is a living doll»; «scared the living daylights out of them»; «beat the living hell out of him»
- (used of minerals or stone) in its natural state and place; not mined or quarried; «carved into the living stone»;
- full of life and interest; «made history a living subject»
- still in active use; «a living language»
- true to life; lifelike; «the living image of her mother»
- pertaining to living persons; «within living memory»
- dwelling or inhabiting; often used in combination: «living quarters»; «tree-living animals»
- people who are still living; «save your pity for the living»
- the financial means whereby one lives; «each child was expected to pay for their keep»; «he applied to the state for support»; «he could no longer earn his own livelihood»
- still in existence; «the Wollemi pine found in Australia is a surviving specimen of a conifer thought to have been long extinct and therefore known as a living fossil»; «the only surviving frontier blockhouse in Pennsylvania»
- the condition of living or the state of being alive; «while there»s life there»s hope»; «life depends on many chemical and physical processes»
- (informal) absolute; «she is a living doll»; «scared the living daylights out of them»; «beat the living hell out of him»
- dwelling or inhabiting; often used in combination; «living quarters»; «tree-living animals»
- the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
- people who are still living
- the financial means whereby one lives
- the condition of living or the state of being alive
- (informal) absolute
- (used of minerals or stone) in its natural state and place; not mined or quarried
- still in active use
- still in existence
- true to life; lifelike
- pertaining to living persons
Synonyms for the word living
-
- active
- alive
- aliveness
- animation
- bread and butter
- breathing
- existing
- income
- keep
- life
- live
- livelihood
- living wage
- source of revenue
- support
- surviving
- sustenance
Similar words in the living
-
- absolute
- alive
- extant
- live
- living
- livings
- livingston
- livingston’s
- livingstone
- livingstone’s
- realistic
Hyponyms for the word living
-
- amenities
- comforts
- conveniences
- creature comforts
- endurance
- eternal life
- life eternal
- maintenance
- meal ticket
- skin
- subsistence
- survival
Hypernyms for the word living
-
- being
- beingness
- existence
- experience
- people
- resource
Antonyms for the word living
-
- dead
See other words
-
- What is holidaying
- The definition of holidayed
- The interpretation of the word festival
- What is meant by sojourns
- The lexical meaning saint
- The dictionary meaning of the word celebration
- The grammatical meaning of the word anniversary
- Meaning of the word break in your journey
- Literal and figurative meaning of the word public holiday
- The origin of the word lived
- Synonym for the word tolerable
- Antonyms for the word liveliest
- Homonyms for the word livelier
- Hyponyms for the word livelihoods
- Holonyms for the word livelong
- Hypernyms for the word livelihood
- Proverbs and sayings for the word liveliness
- Translation of the word in other languages livelongs
- Top Definitions
- Synonyms
- Quiz
- Related Content
- When To Use
- Examples
- British
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
adjective
having life; being alive; not dead: living persons.
in actual existence or use; extant: living languages.
burning or glowing, as a coal.
flowing freely, as water.
pertaining to, suitable for, or sufficient for existence or subsistence: living conditions; a living wage.
of or relating to living persons: within living memory.
lifelike; true to life, as a picture or narrative.
in its natural state and place; not uprooted, changed, etc.: living rock.
Informal. very; absolute (used as an intensifier): You scared the living daylights out of me!He’s making her life a living hell.
noun
the act or condition of a person or thing that lives: Living is very expensive these days.
the means of maintaining life; livelihood: to earn one’s living.
a particular manner, state, or status of life: luxurious living.
Usually the living .(used with a plural verb) living persons collectively: glad to be back among the living.
British. the benefice of a member of the clergy.
QUIZ
CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?
There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?
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Origin of living
First recordedbefore 900; Middle English adjective lyvyng(e); replacing earlier liviende, Old English lifgende (see live1, -ing2); Middle English noun living(e) (see -ing1)
OTHER WORDS FROM living
liv·ing·ly, adverbliv·ing·ness, nounnon·liv·ing, adjective, nounquasi-living, adjective
un·liv·ing, adjective
Words nearby living
live with, liveyer, Livia Drusilla, livid, lividity, living, living bandage, living bank, living daylights, living death, living fossil
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
WHEN TO USE
What are other ways to say living?
A person’s living is their means of maintaining life. How is this term different from livelihood and maintenance? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Words related to living
breathing, contemporary, existence, income, job, livelihood, alert, animated, awake, brisk, continuing, current, developing, dynamic, live, operative, persisting, subsisting, ticking, warm
How to use living in a sentence
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His prototype for Goat is Alto Pharmacy, a booming digital health unicorn today that the founders started in his living room.
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It didn’t take long for the Wrecking Ball of Consequence to come swinging into the Houston Rockets’ living room.
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This ensures your CTV ads are delivering an experience that is traditionally only found in the living room, watching network television.
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As much as Netflix may be a tree in spirit, in reality, it’s not a living, interconnected organism.
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We could raise the federal minimum wage, which hasn’t gone up in over 11 years, or incentivize businesses to pay their employees a living wage.
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Patrick Klugman, the deputy mayor of Paris, said: “We are living our kind of 9/11,” he said.
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Last week I turned 40, a bittersweet occasion because I crossed the line to living longer without my mother than with her.
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But as an American creating a new brand here, and living the daily life of the souk, he seems to be in a league of his own.
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A single father, he had been living abroad and returned when his mother was diagnosed with cancer.
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For those living in poor communities in particular, interactions with police rarely come with good news and a smile.
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To be so humbled in the knowledge of any living being, was the vultures of Prometheus to the proud heart of Ripperda.
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The living (value £250) is in the gift of trustees, and is now held by the Rev. M. Parker, Vicar.
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So far as their thought is still alive these men will come into the discussion of living questions now.
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If they are still Moderns and alive, I defy you to bury them if you are discussing living questions in a full and honest way.
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Either they are unavoidable if your living questions are fully discussed, or they are irrelevant and they do not matter.
British Dictionary definitions for living
adjective
- possessing life; not dead
- (as collective noun preceded by the)the living
having the characteristics of life (used esp to distinguish organisms from nonliving matter)
currently in use or validliving language
seeming to be reala living image
(of animals or plants) existing in the present age; extantCompare extinct (def. 1)
presented by actors before a live audienceliving theatre
(prenominal) (intensifier)the living daylights
noun
the condition of being alive
the manner in which one conducts one’s lifefast living
the means, esp the financial means, whereby one lives
Church of England another term for benefice
(modifier) of, involving, or characteristic of everyday lifeliving area
(modifier) of or involving those now alive (esp in the phrase living memory)
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
liv·ing
(lĭv′ĭng)
adj.
1. Possessing life: famous living painters; transplanted living tissue.
2. In active function or use: a living language.
3. Of persons who are alive: events within living memory.
4. Relating to the routine conduct or maintenance of life: improved living conditions in the city.
5. Full of life, interest, or vitality: made history a living subject.
6. True to life; realistic: the living image of her mother.
7. Still in place as part of a larger mass. Used especially of rock: «In a great hall with pillars hewn out of the living stone sat the Elvenking on a chair of carven wood» (J. R. R. Tolkien). «Carved into a sandstone cliff face towered over by 18,000-foot peaks stood the colossal Buddhas: the universe, mapped in human form, cut from the living rock» (Matthew Power).
8. Having motion suggestive of life. Used especially of water: «The rippling of living waters, the song of birds, the joyous confidence of flowers, the calm, undisturbable grandeur of the oaks, mark this place … as one of the Lord’s most favored abodes of life and light» (John Muir).
9. Informal Used as an intensive: beat the living hell out of his opponent in the boxing match.
n.
1. The condition or action of maintaining life: the high cost of living.
2. A manner or style of life: preferred plain living.
3. A means of maintaining life; livelihood: made their living by hunting.
4. Chiefly British A church benefice, including the revenue attached to it.
Synonyms: living, alive, live2, animate, vital
These adjectives mean possessed of or exhibiting life. Living, alive, and live refer principally to organisms that are not dead: living plants; the happiest person alive; a live canary. Animate applies to living animal as distinct from living plant life: Something animate was moving inside the box. Vital refers to what is characteristic of or necessary to the continuation of life: You must eat to maintain vital energy.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
living
(ˈlɪvɪŋ)
adj
1.
a. possessing life; not dead
b. (as collective noun preceded by the): the living.
2. having the characteristics of life (used esp to distinguish organisms from nonliving matter)
3. currently in use or valid: living language.
4. seeming to be real: a living image.
5. (Biology) (of animals or plants) existing in the present age; extant. Compare extinct1
6. geology another word for live215
7. (Theatre) presented by actors before a live audience: living theatre.
8. (prenominal) (intensifier): the living daylights.
n
9. the condition of being alive
10. the manner in which one conducts one’s life: fast living.
11. the means, esp the financial means, whereby one lives
12. (Ecclesiastical Terms) Church of England another term for benefice
13. (modifier) of, involving, or characteristic of everyday life: living area.
14. (modifier) of or involving those now alive (esp in the phrase living memory)
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
liv•ing
(ˈlɪv ɪŋ)
adj.
1. having life; being alive.
2. in actual existence or use; extant: living languages.
3. active or thriving; vigorous; strong: a living faith.
4. pertaining to or suitable for human activity or existence: living space.
5. of or pertaining to living persons: within living memory.
6. lifelike; true to life: The statue is the living image of him.
7. being in its natural state or place: living rock; a living brook.
8. burning or glowing; live.
9. very; absolute (used as an intensifier): to scare the living daylights out of someone.
n.
10. the act or condition of a person or thing that lives.
11. the means of maintaining life; livelihood: to earn a living.
12. a particular manner, state, or status of life: luxurious living.
13. the living, living persons collectively.
14. Brit. the benefice of a cleric.
[before 900]
liv′ing•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. |  living — the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities; «he could no longer cope with the complexities of life»
life experience — the content of direct observation or participation in an event; «he had a religious experience»; «he recalled the experience vividly» |
| 2. | living — people who are still living; «save your pity for the living»
people — (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively; «old people»; «there were at least 200 people in the audience» dead — people who are no longer living; «they buried the dead» |
|
| 3. |  living — the condition of living or the state of being alive; «while there’s life there’s hope»; «life depends on many chemical and physical processes»
aliveness, animation, life being, beingness, existence — the state or fact of existing; «a point of view gradually coming into being»; «laws in existence for centuries» eternal life, life eternal — life without beginning or end skin — a person’s skin regarded as their life; «he tried to save his skin» survival, endurance — a state of surviving; remaining alive |
|
| 4. |  living — the financial means whereby one lives; «each child was expected to pay for their keep»; «he applied to the state for support»; «he could no longer earn his own livelihood»
bread and butter, keep, livelihood, sustenance, support resource — available source of wealth; a new or reserve supply that can be drawn upon when needed amenities, comforts, conveniences, creature comforts — things that make you comfortable and at ease; «all the comforts of home» maintenance — means of maintenance of a family or group meal ticket — a source of income or livelihood subsistence — minimal (or marginal) resources for subsisting; «social security provided only a bare subsistence» |
|
| Adj. | 1. | living — pertaining to living persons; «within living memory» |
| 2. | living — true to life; lifelike; «the living image of her mother»
realistic — aware or expressing awareness of things as they really are; «a realistic description»; «a realistic view of the possibilities»; «a realistic appraisal of our chances»; «the actors tried to create a realistic portrayal of the Africans» |
|
| 3. | living — (informal) absolute; «she is a living doll»; «scared the living daylights out of them»; «beat the living hell out of him»
intensifier, intensive — a modifier that has little meaning except to intensify the meaning it modifies; «`up’ in `finished up’ is an intensifier»; «`honestly’ in `I honestly don’t know’ is an intensifier» absolute — perfect or complete or pure; «absolute loyalty»; «absolute silence»; «absolute truth»; «absolute alcohol» |
|
| 4. | living — still in existence; «the Wollemi pine found in Australia is a surviving specimen of a conifer thought to have been long extinct and therefore known as a living fossil»; «the only surviving frontier blockhouse in Pennsylvania»
surviving extant — still in existence; not extinct or destroyed or lost; «extant manuscripts»; «specimens of graphic art found among extant barbaric folk»- Edward Clodd |
|
| 5. | living — still in active use; «a living language»
extant — still in existence; not extinct or destroyed or lost; «extant manuscripts»; «specimens of graphic art found among extant barbaric folk»- Edward Clodd |
|
| 6. | living — (used of minerals or stone) in its natural state and place; not mined or quarried; «carved into the living stone»;
live — exerting force or containing energy; «live coals»; «tossed a live cigarette out the window»; «got a shock from a live wire»; «live ore is unmined ore»; «a live bomb»; «a live ball is one in play» |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
living
adjective
1. alive, existing, moving, active, vital, breathing, lively, vigorous, animated, animate, alive and kicking, in the land of the living (informal), quick (archaic) All things, whether living or dead, are believed to influence each other.
alive late, dead, departed, expired, perished, deceased, defunct, lifeless
2. current, continuing, present, developing, active, contemporary, persisting, ongoing, operative, in use, extant a living language
current vanishing, obsolete, out-of-date, obsolescent
Quotations
«The living are the dead on holiday» [Maurice Maeterlinck]
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
living
adjective
1. Having existence or life:
2. Marked by or exhibiting life:
noun
The means needed to support life:
alimentation, alimony, bread, bread and butter, keep, livelihood, maintenance, subsistence, support, sustenance, upkeep.
The American Heritage® Roget’s Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
حَيعلى قَيْد الحَياهمَعِيشَةٌمَعيشَه، مَوْرِد رزق
živobytíživýžijící
indtægtlevendeunderhold
eläminen
življenje
lifandilifibrauî, lífsviîurværinúlifandi
生活
생활
preživljanježiveč
livsuppehälle
หาเลี้ยงชีพ
sinh hoạt
living
[ˈlɪvɪŋ]
C. NPL the living → los vivos
Collins Spanish Dictionary — Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
living
living
:
living cell
n (Med) → Frischzelle f
living conditions
pl → Wohnverhältnisse pl
living will
n → Patiententestament nt, testamentartige Erklärung, dass jd im Falle einer tödlichen Erkrankung nicht künstlich am Leben gehalten werden will
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
live1
(liv) verb
1. to have life; to be alive. This poison is dangerous to everything that lives.
2. to survive. The doctors say he is very ill, but they think he will live.; It was difficult to believe that she had lived through such an experience.
3. to have one’s home or dwelling (in a particular place). She lives next to the church.; They went to live in Bristol / in a huge house.
4. to pass (one’s life). He lived a life of luxury.; She lives in fear of being attacked.
5. (with by) to make enough money etc to feed and house oneself. He lives by fishing.
-lived adjective
having (a certain type of) life. long-lived.
ˈliving adjective
1. having life; being alive. a living creature; The aim of the project was to discover if there was anything living on Mars.
2. now alive. the greatest living artist.
noun
the money etc needed to feed and house oneself and keep oneself alive. He earns his living driving a taxi; She makes a good living as an author.
ˈliving-room noun
the room of a house etc in which the occupants of the house usually sit during their leisure time.
live-in adjective
living in the same place with a sexual partner without being married to him/her. a live-in partner/boyfriend.
live and let live
to tolerate other people’s actions and expect them to tolerate one’s own.
live down
to live through the shame of (a foolish act etc) till it is forgotten.
live in/out
to have one’s home at, away from, the place where one works. All the hotel staff live in; The nurse chose to live out.
live on
1. to keep oneself alive by eating. He lives on fish and potatoes.
2. to be supported (financially) by. He lives on $40 a week.
live up to
to behave in a manner worthy of. He found it difficult to live up to his reputation as a hero.
(with)in living memory
within a period recent enough to be remembered by someone still alive. It was the worst harvest in living memory.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
living
→ مَعِيشَةٌ živobytí underhold Lebensunterhalt τρόπος ζωής vida eläminen vie življenje vita 生活 생활 inkomen liv egzystencja sustento, vida существование livsuppehälle หาเลี้ยงชีพ canlı sinh hoạt 生活
Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
living
n. vida; con vida; modo de vivir;
cost of ___ → costo de ___;
___ expenses → gastos de mantenimiento;
___ under stress → ___ agitada, ___ con estrés.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
Meaning living
What does living mean? Here you find 7 meanings of the word living. You can also add a definition of living yourself
1 |
0 «living persons,» late Old English; early 14c. as «the fact of dwelling in some place,» verbal noun from live (v.). The meaning «manner of course or living» is mid-14c.; [..]
|
2 |
0 livingc. 1200, «alive, not dead,» also «residing, staying,» present-participle adjective from live (v.)). Replaced Old English lifende «living, having life.» Of water, «co [..]
|
3 |
0 livingpertaining to living persons; "within living memory" life: the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities; "he could no longer cope wit [..]
|
4 |
0 livinglively, convincing.
|
5 |
0 livingThe ecclesiastical benefice of a rector or vicar. (Beresford, Maurice and Hurst, John. Wharram Percy: Deserted Medieval Village, 137)
|
6 |
0 livingvictus
|
7 |
0 livingA Housing and community arrangement that maximizes independence and self-determination.
|
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