live off

verb

lived off; living off; lives off

: to use (something or someone) as the main source of what one needs to survive (such as money or food)

… the indigenous … people, who have inhabited the rain forest of Irian Jaya, living off the land, for thousands of years.—

Eyal Press

… the fish goes into a kind of hibernation, living off its reserves of fat …—

Mark Carwardine

… she is one of the few Iditarod competitors who have turned professional, living off race winnings.—

National Wildlife

… a growing subculture of people who have reduced their spending habits and live off consumer waste.—

Erika Hayasaki

Max lives off his father …—

Harold Beaver

Examples of live off in a Sentence

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.

Lice are parasites that survive on your body by living off your blood. —

Wendy Wisner, Health, 3 Nov. 2024 Many of the island’s earliest settlers thrived by living off the land, even in times of famine, and Ms. Doreen’s tour provides a glimpse into that resilient tradition. —

Shelby Stewart, Essence, 24 Oct. 2024 Her exuberant interpretation, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 posthumously, transforms his lyrics about the freedom of living off the grid into a kind of joyful hippie anthem, highlighting nuances that his straightforward delivery doesn’t reach. —

Chris Willman, Variety, 30 Sep. 2024 With entire weeks at a time with little to do but live off her royalties, she’s got more than enough time to catch up on old and new prestige television. —

Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for live off