living

1 of 2

adjective

liv·​ing ˈli-viŋ How to pronounce living (audio)
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 historyNEA 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

living

2 of 2

noun

1
: the condition of being alive
2
a
: means of subsistence : livelihood
earning a living
b
archaic : estate, property
c
British : benefice sense 1
3
: conduct or manner of life
the collegiate way of livingJ. B. Conant

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.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Adjective
Once the spirits have settled into their family homes to live and share meals as honored guests, more living relatives travel from far and wide to bring gifts and pay their respects. Matt Ralphs, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Oct. 2024 For one couple seeking more living space in Los Angeles, the question was whether or not to build an addition onto their bungalow or convert their two-car garage into an ADU. Morgan Goldberg, Architectural Digest, 4 Oct. 2024
Noun
In San Francisco, California, a city where the cost of living is 18 percent higher than the national average, a lot more than that—to be precise, over $70,000—is needed for a family to achieve that same middle-class lifestyle. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024 Even as the pace of inflation has come down from post pandemic highs, Shanks said her cost of living is still high and her car insurance rates recently increased significantly. Lorie Konish, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for living 

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of living was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near living

Cite this Entry

“Living.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/living. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

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 noun
1
: 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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