live by
verb
lived by; living by; lives by
1
: to agree with and follow (something, such as a set of beliefs)
He tried to live by his faith.
a principle I try to live by
2
: to survive by (doing something)
They were an ancient people who lived by hunting and gathering.
Examples of live by in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Poet and novelist Paul Laurence Dunbar was one of the first African American writers to achieve national fame and the first to make a concerted attempt to live by his writing.
—
René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
The winners will be announced on Saturday, May 23 at the Closing Ceremony, broadcast live by France Télévisions in France and by Brut.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
The vast majority of deputies still live by those values every day.
—Sierra Van Der Brug, Daily News, 4 May 2026
Why do seagulls live by the sea?
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for live by
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
The winners will be announced on Saturday, May 23 at the Closing Ceremony, broadcast live by France Télévisions in France and by Brut.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
The vast majority of deputies still live by those values every day.
—Sierra Van Der Brug, Daily News, 4 May 2026
Why do seagulls live by the sea?
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for live by
Cite this Entry
“Live by.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/live%20by. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
