Synonyms of living

living 1 of 3

adjective

ˈli-viŋ 

1

as in operating

being in effective operation

a living tradition of the holiday season

a living culture that has survived a number of foreign invasions

Synonyms & Similar Words

• operating
• operational
• operative
• functioning
• live
• working
• running
• going
• active
• on
• in force
• alive
• functional
• operable
• in commission
• on line
• viable
• in gear
• effective
• producing
• serving
• employable
• performing
• flourishing
• effectual
• useful
• usable
• productive
• workable
• busy
• thriving
• humming
• yielding
• dynamic
• bustling
• astir
• roaring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dead
• broken
• inactive
• inoperative
• nonfunctioning
• nonfunctional
• nonoperative
• useless
• ineffective
• ineffectual
• nonactivated
• nonoperational
• nonoperating
• arrested
• idle
• dormant
• unusable
• kaput
• decommissioned
• inert
• deactivated
• unworkable
• quiescent
• fallow
• lifeless
• sleepy
• asleep
• inoperable
• latent
• unproductive
• nonproductive
• stagnating
• vegetating

2

as in existing

having being at the present time

there are fewer than a dozen living former presidents

Synonyms & Similar Words

• existing
• extant
• existent
• alive
• operating
• active
• functioning
• around
• busy
• working
• flourishing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dead
• extinct
• destroyed
• gone
• defunct
• lost
• departed
• nonextant
• nonexistent
• exterminated
• idle
• inactive
• inert
• kaput

3

as in breathing

having or showing life

is your hamster still living?

Synonyms & Similar Words

• breathing
• alive
• live
• animate
• active
• surviving
• thriving
• lively
• animated
• dynamic
• existing
• quick
• vibrant
• current
• going
• existent
• prevailing
• extant
• vigorous
• vital
• vivacious
• resurrected

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dead
• deceased
• dying
• cold
• inanimate
• nonliving
• departed
• lifeless
• expired
• asleep
• defunct
• breathless
• fading
• moribund
• resting
• stillborn
• gone
• absent
• ghostly
• extinct
• nonexistent
• finished
• vanished
• terminated
• fallen
• wiped out
• lost
• ghostlike
• barren
• lapsed
• desert
• reposing
• zombielike
• ghosty
• perished

4

as in realistic

closely resembling the object imitated

an outdoor museum that is a living re-creation of a typical New England village circa 1840

Synonyms & Similar Words

• realistic
• natural
• naturalistic
• near
• three-dimensional
• like
• comparable
• similar
• lifelike
• vivid
• graphic
• true
• compelling
• matching
• convincing
• accurate
• photo-realistic
• alike
• faithful
• close
• analogous
• resembling
• akin
• approximate
• expressive
• verisimilar
• gritty

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• unlike
• unnatural
• unrealistic
• dissimilar
• off
• different
• incomparable
• unmatched
• disparate
• nonnatural
• contrasting
• nonrealistic
• mock
• fake
• phony
• unalike
• sham
• contrasted

living

2 of 3

noun

as in livelihood

Related Words

• livelihood
• work
• employment
• occupation
• business
• enterprise
• profession
• vocation
• calling
• trade
• field
• game
• racket
• art
• mission
• lay
• lifework
• métier
• office
• engagement
• situation
• assignment
• line
• gig
• call
• craft
• position
• job
• place
• handicraft
• task
• function
• duty
• handcraft
• post
• load
• workload
• appointment
• billet
• berth

Dissimilar Words

• pursuit
• hobby
• avocation

living

3 of 3

verb

present participle of live

1

as in residing

to have a home

he lives next door to the hospital

Synonyms & Similar Words

• residing
• dwelling
• staying
• abiding
• inhabiting
• occupying
• visiting
• lodging
• haunting
• cohabiting
• hanging (at)
• settling
• frequenting
• renting
• populating
• subletting
• leasing
• peopling
• tenanting

2

as in being

to have life

Socrates was a philosopher who lived in ancient Greece

Synonyms & Similar Words

• being
• existing
• breathing
• ruling
• subsisting
• surviving
• continuing
• kicking
• enduring
• flourishing
• keeping (on)
• lasting
• abiding
• leading
• moving
• persisting
• holding on
• running on
• thriving
• prospering
• holding up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• dying
• departing
• perishing
• succumbing
• vanishing
• disappearing
• expiring
• passing away
• evaporating
• ending
• stopping
• ceasing
• dying (down)
• quitting
• discontinuing
• subsiding
• moderating
• waning
• ebbing
• abating
• desisting
• letting up

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of living

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

Protesters across France rallied against soaring living costs and in support of students, reviving the ‘yellow vest’ movement as anger over government policies grew. — Sylvie Corbet, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Light enough to slip into your pocket, strong enough to hold a day’s worth of living. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Verb

Open Doors officials requested accommodation for a 40-person group-living facility at the site, where such facilities are normally not allowed under city rules. — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026

The protests, fueled in part by anger over rising living costs, school conditions and public services, erupted into violence Saturday. — Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026