living

1 of 3

adjective

liv·​ing ˈli-viŋ 

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

: live entry 2 sense 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

living

2 of 3

noun

1

: the condition of being alive

2

a

: means of subsistence : livelihood

earning a living

b

archaic : estate, property

c

British : benefice sense 1

3

: conduct or manner of life

… the collegiate way of living …

—J. B. Conant

living

3 of 3

present participle of live entry 1

Synonyms of living

Adjective

• operating
• operational
• operative
• functioning

Examples of living in a Sentence

Adjective

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.

Noun

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 on the Web

Adjective

For now, Rooral only operates in Benarraba, but similar programs are starting to pop up across Spain—like Anceu, which offers a rural co-living program in Galicia. — Liz Provencher, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026

At the time, Rice was an account executive for PadSplit, an online co-living rental marketplace, where users can rent rooms in shared living spaces. — Diamy Wang august 15, Charlotte Observer, 15 Aug. 2026

Noun

Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Kacey Musgraves, Jack White, every living president, Jane Fonda, and countless more have all mourned the beloved star. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026

The new job comes with a starting salary of $305,324, a monthly car allowance, an annual cost-of-living adjustment and other benefits, according to the compensation package included in Tuesday’s City Commission meeting agenda packet. — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing living

• assisted living
• beat the (living) daylights out of
• be living on borrowed time
• cost of living
• cost-of-living index
• do for a living
• earn a living
• free-living
• honest living
• in living color
• in the land of the living
• in/within living memory
• living death
• living embodiment
• living fossil
• living hell
• living language
• living legend
• living proof
• living quarters
• living room
• living standard
• living stone
• living trust
• living unit
• living wage
• living will
• make a living
• scratch a living
• scratch out a living
• standard of living
• the living

Rhymes for living

• giving
• sieving
• almsgiving
• caregiving
• forgiving
• misgiving
• nonliving
• reliving
• thanksgiving
• unforgiving

Kids Definition

living

1 of 2 adjective

liv·​ing

ˈliv-iŋ

1

a

: not dead : alive

living authors

b

: active sense 4b

a living faith

2

: naturally giving life

living waters

3

a

: true to life

the living image of your mother

b

: fit for living

the living area

living

2 of 2 noun

1

: the condition of being alive

2

: conduct or manner of life

3

: what one has to have to meet one's needs

earned a living as a cook