live off

verb

lived off; living off; lives off

transitive verb

: to use (something or someone) as the main source of what one needs to survive (such as money or food)

… the indigenous … people, who have inhabited the rain forest of Irian Jaya, living off the land, for thousands of years.

—Eyal Press

… the fish goes into a kind of hibernation, living off its reserves of fat …

—Mark Carwardine

… she is one of the few Iditarod competitors who have turned professional, living off race winnings.

—National Wildlife

… a growing subculture of people who have reduced their spending habits and live off consumer waste.

—Erika Hayasaki

Max lives off his father …

—Harold Beaver

Examples of live off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The goal is for residents to be able to live off the land and grow their own organic food—kind of like the ultimate farm-to-table experience, but in your backyard. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 Oct. 2024

Everyone at that time lived off the forest and forestry exploitation. —Outside Online, 25 Sep. 2024

Therefore, people living off their family assets will often want to waive alimony. —Christine Fletcher, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024

After living off grid in a trailer, Laura La Rue, a tie-dye artist and former model, created a live-work compound centered around an Ojai school bus. —Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined above