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 mural also honors the Anishinaabe's Seven Grandfather Teachings, which are values that the people live by that include honesty, love and respect.
—
Nick Lentz, CBS News, 24 Nov. 2025
The Inuits lived by the rhythms of seasons and wildlife, temperature and light.
—Ben Taub, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Then as now, those are words to live by.
—Brad Dokken, Twin Cities, 22 Nov. 2025
One love like Marshawn lived by, that’s awesome.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for live by
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Nick Lentz, CBS News, 24 Nov. 2025
The Inuits lived by the rhythms of seasons and wildlife, temperature and light.
—Ben Taub, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Then as now, those are words to live by.
—Brad Dokken, Twin Cities, 22 Nov. 2025
One love like Marshawn lived by, that’s awesome.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Nov. 2025
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 28 Nov. 2025.
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