1
a
: having life
b
: active, functioning
living languages
2
a
: exhibiting the life or motion of nature : natural
the wilderness is a living museum … of natural history—
NEA Jour.
NEA Jour.3
a
: full of life or vigor
b
: true to life : vivid
televised in living color
c
: suited for living
the living area
4
: involving living persons
5
: very
—used as an intensive
scared the living daylights out of me
livingness
noun
1
: the condition of being alive
2
a
: means of subsistence : livelihood
earning a living
c
British
: benefice sense 1
3
: conduct or manner of life
the collegiate way of living—J. B. Conant
J. B. Conant
Synonyms
Examples of living in a Sentence
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.
Recent Examples on the WebMindy Weisberger, CNN, 26 Mar. 2024
This trend encourages you to blend diverse elements that create a visually-striking living environment.
—Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Jan. 2024
Bonobos and chimpanzees, our closest living relatives, maintain similar social dynamics.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2023
Along with chimpanzees, bonobos are some of our closest living relatives.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 16 Nov. 2023
Freezing temperatures made living conditions inside the plane fuselage incredibly harsh, and the survivors were weakened by exposure.
—Madeleine Kearns, National Review, 8 Feb. 2024
Wilbur is a living example of what DockDogs is all about.
—Brent Frazee, Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2024
The front entry, sitting room, and staircase were left largely untouched, but they’re now connected to an airier, family-friendly living space.
—Christine Lennon, Sunset Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
Haas is a living example of this philosophy as focusing on executing every detail has propelled him to great heights both professionally and personally.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 2 Aug. 2023
Yasmeen Serhan, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024
Local politicians have consistently justified Hialeah’s urban transformation, citing the need to cater to a demographic shift of young professionals who had previously sought more contemporary living options akin to those found in Miami.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
Last week, a TikTok user posted an angry rant about the cost of living that’s since been viewed 5 million times on the platform, with tens of thousands of comments and shares.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
This shift reflects broader economic and social changes, including the erosion of traditional pension plans and the rising cost of living, which compel many to extend their careers.
—Tim Fries, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2024
California’s unemployment rate was the nation’s highest in February, as the high cost of living and the loss of construction, machinery and agriculture jobs hit hard.
—David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024
Likewise, the cost of living is lowest in states including Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Alabama, and yet these states fall in the national rankings due to factors such as higher senior poverty rates and Medicare spending.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2024
The third phase, which was completed in early 2022, includes a chic pickleball court surrounded by fragrant Mexican marigold, a wooden hot tub, and a spectacular outdoor kitchen and living area that nearly doubles the square footage of the family’s communal living space.
—Christine Lennon, Sunset Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
The space also includes folding glass doors for easy indoor/outdoor living.
—Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Its closest living relatives are river dolphins living more than 6,000 miles (10,000 kilometers) away in South Asia, according to researchers who recently described the previously unknown extinct mammal.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 26 Mar. 2024
This trend encourages you to blend diverse elements that create a visually-striking living environment.
—Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Jan. 2024
Bonobos and chimpanzees, our closest living relatives, maintain similar social dynamics.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2023
Along with chimpanzees, bonobos are some of our closest living relatives.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 16 Nov. 2023
Freezing temperatures made living conditions inside the plane fuselage incredibly harsh, and the survivors were weakened by exposure.
—Madeleine Kearns, National Review, 8 Feb. 2024
Wilbur is a living example of what DockDogs is all about.
—Brent Frazee, Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2024
The front entry, sitting room, and staircase were left largely untouched, but they’re now connected to an airier, family-friendly living space.
—Christine Lennon, Sunset Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
Haas is a living example of this philosophy as focusing on executing every detail has propelled him to great heights both professionally and personally.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 2 Aug. 2023
Noun
By Yasmeen Serhan April 16, 2024 8:02 AM EDT
A quarter of the way into the most consequential election year in living memory, tech companies are failing their biggest test.
—Yasmeen Serhan, TIME, 16 Apr. 2024
Local politicians have consistently justified Hialeah’s urban transformation, citing the need to cater to a demographic shift of young professionals who had previously sought more contemporary living options akin to those found in Miami.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2024
Last week, a TikTok user posted an angry rant about the cost of living that’s since been viewed 5 million times on the platform, with tens of thousands of comments and shares.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024
This shift reflects broader economic and social changes, including the erosion of traditional pension plans and the rising cost of living, which compel many to extend their careers.
—Tim Fries, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2024
California’s unemployment rate was the nation’s highest in February, as the high cost of living and the loss of construction, machinery and agriculture jobs hit hard.
—David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024
Likewise, the cost of living is lowest in states including Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Alabama, and yet these states fall in the national rankings due to factors such as higher senior poverty rates and Medicare spending.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2024
The third phase, which was completed in early 2022, includes a chic pickleball court surrounded by fragrant Mexican marigold, a wooden hot tub, and a spectacular outdoor kitchen and living area that nearly doubles the square footage of the family’s communal living space.
—Christine Lennon, Sunset Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
The space also includes folding glass doors for easy indoor/outdoor living.
—Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
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.
Word History
Phrases Containing living
Dictionary Entries Near living
Cite this Entry
“Living.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/living. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
living
1 of 2 adjective
liv·ing
ˈliv-iŋ
1
a
: not dead : alive
living authors
b
: active sense 4b
a living faith
2
: naturally giving life
living waters
3
a
: true to life
the living image of your mother
b
: fit for living
the living area
living
2 of 2 noun1
: the condition of being alive
2
: conduct or manner of life
3
: what one has to have to meet one's needs
earned a living as a cook
More from Merriam-Webster on living
Nglish: Translation of living for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of living for Arabic Speakers
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