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earn a living

idiom

Definition of earn a living

: to earn the money needed for food, clothing, etc.
  • She's just trying to earn a living.

Word by Word Definitions

earn play

  1. : to receive as return for effort and especially for work done or services rendered

  2. : to bring in by way of return

  3. : to come to be duly worthy of or entitled or suited to

  1. : grieve

See the full definition of earn
living play

  1. : having life

  2. : active, functioning

  3. : exhibiting the life or motion of nature : natural

  1. : the condition of being alive

  2. : means of subsistence : livelihood

  3. : estate, property

See the full definition of living

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