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.
NEA Jour.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
1
: the condition of being alive
2
a
: means of subsistence : livelihood
earning a living
c
British
: benefice sense 1
3
: conduct or manner of life
the collegiate way of living—J. B. Conant
J. B. Conant
Synonyms
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.
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Recent Examples on the WebJon Stojan, USA TODAY, 2 Aug. 2023
Penn Medicine Weissman has been studying RNA, a molecule in most living organisms and viruses, for nearly 30 years at UPenn. mRNA, or messenger RNA, tells your body how to make proteins and the mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 tells your body how to copy the coronavirus' spike proteins.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2023
The average person has between 2 and 4 million sweat glands in their skin, at 10 times the density of a chimpanzee’s, one of our closest living relatives.
—WIRED, 30 Sep. 2023
An examiner with the office also denied registration under a section of the law that bars registration of marks that falsely suggests a connection with a living or dead person.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 30 Sep. 2023
Its pre-eminent living composer, Estonia’s Arvo Part, has won a vast audience beyond the Orthodox aficionados and is one of the world’s most revered living composers.
—Brett Campbell | , oregonlive, 7 Sep. 2023
While scientists already plan to bring living insects to space to work as pollinators and to eat waste, the insects’ metal counterparts would likely live longer.
—Molly Glick, Scientific American, 17 July 2023
An aspen stem in Pando, one of the world's oldest living organisms.
—Paighten Harkins, The Salt Lake Tribune, 14 Aug. 2023
According to the Worcester Telegram’s intrepid Bill Ballou, 92-year-old Walpole Joe Morgan, skipper of the Red Sox from 1988-91, is the fourth-oldest living ex-manager, topped only by Billy Gardner (96), Billy Hunter (95), and Bob Lillis (93).
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Aug. 2023
Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 18 Nov. 2023
But the crunch is particularly acute in rural areas and places with a high cost of living, like California, which has a lower ratio of therapists to residents: just 57 per 100,000, compared with the national ratio of 72 per 100,000, according to the APTA.
—Mark Kreidler | Kaiser Health News, ABC News, 18 Nov. 2023
But in recent years, these two prominent nonprofits have experienced profound problems in their operations and with their tenants’ safety and living conditions.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2023
The classic Craftsman is now updated for modern living, but still retains its character and charm.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 15 Nov. 2023
The 3,000-square-foot home has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a flex office space, and an emphasis on indoor-outdoor living.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2023
The tour begins in independent living, passes through assisted living by way of the pond, and concludes in the memory wing.
—Clare Sestanovich, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023
The current minimum wage of 8,300 taka ($75), set in 2018, has left workers struggling due to inflation and rising living costs.
—Emily Chan, Vogue, 6 Nov. 2023
Jasmine found herself with full body hives after exposure to Gino’s filthy living environment, and a new 90 Day lead, Clayton, introduced viewers to his apartment full of guinea pigs, chihuahuas and his mother, who lives in his closet.
—Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 6 Nov. 2023
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Adjective
Haas is a living example of this philosophy as focusing on executing every detail has propelled him to great heights both professionally and personally.
—Jon Stojan, USA TODAY, 2 Aug. 2023
Penn Medicine Weissman has been studying RNA, a molecule in most living organisms and viruses, for nearly 30 years at UPenn. mRNA, or messenger RNA, tells your body how to make proteins and the mRNA vaccine against COVID-19 tells your body how to copy the coronavirus' spike proteins.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2023
The average person has between 2 and 4 million sweat glands in their skin, at 10 times the density of a chimpanzee’s, one of our closest living relatives.
—WIRED, 30 Sep. 2023
An examiner with the office also denied registration under a section of the law that bars registration of marks that falsely suggests a connection with a living or dead person.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 30 Sep. 2023
Its pre-eminent living composer, Estonia’s Arvo Part, has won a vast audience beyond the Orthodox aficionados and is one of the world’s most revered living composers.
—Brett Campbell | , oregonlive, 7 Sep. 2023
While scientists already plan to bring living insects to space to work as pollinators and to eat waste, the insects’ metal counterparts would likely live longer.
—Molly Glick, Scientific American, 17 July 2023
An aspen stem in Pando, one of the world's oldest living organisms.
—Paighten Harkins, The Salt Lake Tribune, 14 Aug. 2023
According to the Worcester Telegram’s intrepid Bill Ballou, 92-year-old Walpole Joe Morgan, skipper of the Red Sox from 1988-91, is the fourth-oldest living ex-manager, topped only by Billy Gardner (96), Billy Hunter (95), and Bob Lillis (93).
—Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Aug. 2023
Noun
It’s finished to the hilt, as expected from someone who studied under Dufour, known as the greatest living expert in horological decoration.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 18 Nov. 2023
But the crunch is particularly acute in rural areas and places with a high cost of living, like California, which has a lower ratio of therapists to residents: just 57 per 100,000, compared with the national ratio of 72 per 100,000, according to the APTA.
—Mark Kreidler | Kaiser Health News, ABC News, 18 Nov. 2023
But in recent years, these two prominent nonprofits have experienced profound problems in their operations and with their tenants’ safety and living conditions.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2023
The classic Craftsman is now updated for modern living, but still retains its character and charm.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 15 Nov. 2023
The 3,000-square-foot home has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a flex office space, and an emphasis on indoor-outdoor living.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2023
The tour begins in independent living, passes through assisted living by way of the pond, and concludes in the memory wing.
—Clare Sestanovich, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023
The current minimum wage of 8,300 taka ($75), set in 2018, has left workers struggling due to inflation and rising living costs.
—Emily Chan, Vogue, 6 Nov. 2023
Jasmine found herself with full body hives after exposure to Gino’s filthy living environment, and a new 90 Day lead, Clayton, introduced viewers to his apartment full of guinea pigs, chihuahuas and his mother, who lives in his closet.
—Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 6 Nov. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'living.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing living
Dictionary Entries Near living
Cite this Entry
“Living.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/living. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
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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 noun1
: 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
More from Merriam-Webster on living
Nglish: Translation of living for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of living for Arabic Speakers
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