make a living
idiom
: to earn the money one needs to pay for housing, food, etc.
He made a living by working as a cook.
Examples of make a living in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The film, about a woman forced to make a living by sitting in men’s laps in a coffee shop in rural Indonesia, also picked up the FIPRESCI Award, the Face of the Future Award and the Central Asia Cinema Award, presented by Bishkek International Film Festival.
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Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025
It was looked at as a viable way to make a living and an honest living at that.
—Sid Evans, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2025
In Lobitos, nearly everyone depends on the sea to make a living, either in fishing or in the tourism industry.
—Sabrina Weiss, The Dial, 23 Sep. 2025
After working different jobs to make a living, he was hired at a call center, climbed his way to management and then started his own business.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
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Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2025
It was looked at as a viable way to make a living and an honest living at that.
—Sid Evans, Southern Living, 23 Sep. 2025
In Lobitos, nearly everyone depends on the sea to make a living, either in fishing or in the tourism industry.
—Sabrina Weiss, The Dial, 23 Sep. 2025
After working different jobs to make a living, he was hired at a call center, climbed his way to management and then started his own business.
—Michael Rios, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make a living
Cite this Entry
“Make a living.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make%20a%20living. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.
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