live off
verb
lived off; living off; lives off
: 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
Eyal Press… the fish goes into a kind of hibernation, living off its reserves of fat …—Mark Carwardine
Mark Carwardine… she is one of the few Iditarod competitors who have turned professional, living off race winnings.—National Wildlife
National Wildlife… a growing subculture of people who have reduced their spending habits and live off consumer waste.—Erika Hayasaki
Erika HayasakiMax lives off his father …—Harold Beaver
Harold BeaverExamples of live off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The business lives off foot traffic and customers riding the bus.
—Larry Seward, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2025
View gallery - 12 images This pint-sized tiny house only measures 172 sq ft (16 sq m) but manages to squeeze in a surprisingly livable interior suitable for one or two people to live off-grid full-time.
—New Atlas, 16 Nov. 2025
After a career waiting tables, Lambert, 63, lives off her $1,000 monthly disability check.
—Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 11 Nov. 2025
O’Neill did not become rich in his public job, living off his pension and a best-selling autobiography and a few TV commercials after quitting.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for live off
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Larry Seward, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2025
View gallery - 12 images This pint-sized tiny house only measures 172 sq ft (16 sq m) but manages to squeeze in a surprisingly livable interior suitable for one or two people to live off-grid full-time.
—New Atlas, 16 Nov. 2025
After a career waiting tables, Lambert, 63, lives off her $1,000 monthly disability check.
—Hayleigh Colombo, IndyStar, 11 Nov. 2025
O’Neill did not become rich in his public job, living off his pension and a best-selling autobiography and a few TV commercials after quitting.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for live off
Cite this Entry
“Live off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/live%20off. Accessed 28 Nov. 2025.
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