live by

phrasal 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

The performance was streamed live by the BBC on its iPlayer service. —Fatima Al-Kassab, NPR, 30 June 2025

The explicit calls for violence against Jews, broadcast live by the BBC without interruption, literally gave hate a stage, a microphone, and the stamp of legitimacy of one of Britain’s most respected public institutions. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 29 June 2025

Fans can stream the Club World Cup live by subscribing to DAZN. —Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025

Dolly Parton has given the world many, many memorable quotes to live by and embroider on pillows or emblazon on candles as one sees fit. —Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 27 May 2025

Rhymes for live by

• abscissae
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi
• certify