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

In other words, the priority among agent-detecting organisms of many kinds seems to be to separate those forces of change that are alive from those that are non-living. — Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026

For Dinat, one of the few with living memories of the ’56 march, the lesson hasn’t changed in 70 years. — Michelle Gumede, Los Angeles Times, 10 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

This packed schedule is a small window into how Benski has been living and working after leaving Gangs of London producer Pulse Films in 2022. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026

Unanswered questions remain over the impact on the environment, the community living near the refinery, and taxpayers. — Martin K.n Siele, semafor.com, 12 Oct. 2026