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
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Concurrently with the ascendancy of higher education came the triumph of American mid-century publishing when writers could actually make a living from advances and royalties.
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Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
Small or No Artwork on the Walls Bare walls make a living room feel empty, but choosing artwork can feel intimidating.
—Anyssa Roberts, The Spruce, 12 Jan. 2026
That’s not my particular hangup, though my ability to make a living from them is.
—Liana Finck, New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2025
The island is home to between 200-300 people, many of whom still make a living crabbing and fishing the way their ancestors once did.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 18 Dec. 2025
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Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
Small or No Artwork on the Walls Bare walls make a living room feel empty, but choosing artwork can feel intimidating.
—Anyssa Roberts, The Spruce, 12 Jan. 2026
That’s not my particular hangup, though my ability to make a living from them is.
—Liana Finck, New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2025
The island is home to between 200-300 people, many of whom still make a living crabbing and fishing the way their ancestors once did.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 18 Dec. 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 22 Jan. 2026.
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