live for

phrasal verb

lived for; living for; lives for
1
: to wait or hope for (something) very eagerly
I live for the day when we'll be together!
2
: to think of (something) as the most important or enjoyable part of one's life
She lives for her work.
3
: to think of (something) as a reason for being alive
He's depressed and feels as if he has nothing left to live for.

Examples of live for in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The animals can grow to more than 20 feet long, weigh more than a ton and can live for nearly 400 years, making the species the longest-living vertebrate on the planet—a fact that could help unlock secrets to enhancing longevity. Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 9 Jan. 2026 Even ahead of his hour-long speech in the Capitol, Assembly Republicans charged that the governor’s eight-year term culminated in unfulfilled efforts to lower the cost of living for California families. Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026 Ferguson has lived intermittently across the street from where Good and her family lived for approximately 13 years. Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026 Venezuela — where Jews have lived for at least 200 years — was among the world’s first countries to recognize Israel’s independence in May 1948. Larry Luxner, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for live for

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Live for.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/live%20for. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!