living

adjective liv·ing \ ˈli-viŋ \

Definition of living

1 a :having life

b :active, functioning

living languages

2 a :exhibiting the life or motion of nature :natural

the wilderness is a living museum … of natural history
—NEA Jour.

b :²live 2a

3 a :full of life or vigor

b :true to life :vivid

televised in living color

c :suited for living

the living area

4 :involving living persons

5 :very —used as an intensive

scared the living daylights out of me

—

livingness

noun

See living defined for English-language learners

See living defined for kids

Examples of living in a Sentence

I was taught to respect all living things.
His aunt is his closest living relative.
He's one of our greatest living authors.
It was the first time I had ever seen a living, breathing bear in the wild.

Recent Examples of living from the Web

The genetic code, after all, is really just a means to preserve and transmit information—the information of how a living thing works.

— bryan walsh, Newsweek, "New Natural Selection: How Scientists Are Altering DNA to Genetically Engineer New Forms of Life," 29 June 2017
All the new construction means the 55 and better crowd (a new term for those age 55 years and older) has more living choices than ever before.

— charlotteobserver, "First big retirement decision: Where do you want to live?," 27 June 2017
His team is now checking if fetuses share other infant biases, like a fondness for biological motion—movements that resemble those of living things.

— ed yong, The Atlantic, "Fetuses Prefer Face-Like Images Even in the Womb," 8 June 2017
The occasion was also a learning lesson for younger generations, as the number of living World War II veterans continues to shrink each year.

— phillip molnar, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Memorial Day brings out the crowd in Rancho Bernardo," 29 May 2017
Without this rule, organic animals have few protections, and their living conditions are getting worse over time.

— baltimoresun.com, "Organic should mean humane," 17 May 2017
Low-income renters with subsidy vouchers have flooded the neighborhood, seeking better living conditions.

— kathy bergen, chicagotribune.com, "South Shore, once thriving, struggles amid economic erosion and crime," 2 May 2017
Of course, there have been cases in which guests have overstayed their welcome, hanging around for more than a night or two, monopolizing the host’s living room, and kitchen.

— katie kramon, idahostatesman, "Warm Showers offers hospitality for road-weary cyclists, at no charge," 1 May 2017
Now, a new report shows that rents have been rising even faster for houses, which are preferred by families and others seeking a bit more living space.

— jeff collins, Orange County Register, "Want to rent a house? It’ll cost you $3,114 a month in Orange County," 14 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'living.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of living

before 12th century

living Synonyms

living

noun

Definition of living

1 :the condition of being alive

2 a :means of subsistence :livelihood

earning a living

b archaic :estate, property

c British :benefice 1

3 :conduct or manner of life

the collegiate way of living
—J. B. Conant

See living defined for English-language learners

Examples of living in a Sentence

the challenges of city living
It's summertime, and the living is easy.
the living and the dead
The world belongs to the living.

Recent Examples of living from the Web

Unlike many athletes, Schmid originally did not plan to play sports for a living.

— jon j. kerr, chicagotribune.com, "Lake Zurich grad Stephanie Schmid to play pro basketball in Ireland," 29 Aug. 2017
First the tin canopy tore off over the living room.

— frank bajak, The Seattle Times, "Sam Speights’ desperate effort to stay alive during Harvey," 28 Aug. 2017
That recommendation suggests taking away cost-of-living increases awarded to state retirees from 1996 to 2012.

— tom loftus, The Courier-Journal, "Bevin consultant proposes cutting retirees' pensions, moving state workers to 401(k) plans," 28 Aug. 2017
The accounts that are common for those inside and outside of prison are ones of living: the difficulties of communication, the struggle of overcoming loneliness, the sometimes devastating desire to belong.

— galen beebe, The Atlantic, "The Podcast Made From Inside Prison," 27 Aug. 2017
Turner's mom, who cleans houses in town for a living, went to work a couple of days after that, and her employer, an older white woman, brought up the results of the recent election.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "Listen to This Casual Slavery Talk Down in Tennessee," 17 Aug. 2017
For O'Toole, the new Kenton County Alliance coordinator, the key to healthy living is early education about drug and substance abuse.

— melissa reinert, Cincinnati.com, "Kenton Alliance Coordinator O'Toole works to save lives, families," 16 Aug. 2017
Erez replaces Robin Eisenberg, the temple's former director of Jewish learning and living — who retired after 33 years of dedicated service to Temple Beth El.

— randall p. lieberman, Jewish Journal, "Boca's Temple Beth El has new youth education director," 16 Aug. 2017
The cost of living rises, banks withdraw from the City of London, tech workers, academics, engineers slowly migrate from the U.K., or are simply not coming, as is the case with foreign nurses needed by Britain’s National Health Service.

— henry porter, The Hive, "Donald Trump, Theresa May, and the End of Government as We Know It," 14 Aug. 2017

First Known Use of living

14th century

LIVING Defined for English Language Learners

living

adjective

Definition of living for English Language Learners

: not dead : having life
: currently active or being used
: having the form of a person who is alive

living

noun

Definition of living for English Language Learners

: a way of earning money : the money that someone needs to pay for housing, food, etc.
: a way of living
the living : people who are alive

LIVING Defined for Kids

living

adjective liv·ing \ ˈli-viŋ \

Definition of living for Students

1 :not dead :alive

We're his closest living relatives.

2 :true to life

You are the living image of your parents.

living

noun

Definition of living for Students

1 :the condition of being alive

2 :conduct or manner of life

healthy living

3 :what a person has to have to meet basic needs

She made a living as a cook.

Learn More about living

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for living Spanish Central: Translation of living Nglish: Translation of living for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of living for Arabic speakers

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