living

1 of 2

adjective

liv·​ing ˈli-viŋ 

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.

b

: live entry 2 sense 2a

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 living

—J. B. Conant

Synonyms

Adjective

• active
• alive
• functional
• functioning
• going
• live
• on
• operating
• operational
• operative
• running
• working

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

Adjective

Advertisement Tunney, who at 95 was the oldest living retired referee, died Thursday at his home in Pebble Beach, Calif. —Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024

The remaining area can be used for storage or renovated into more living space. —Karen A. Avitabile, Hartford Courant, 1 Dec. 2024

Noun

Ascension owns 140 hospitals and scores of assisted living facilities. —Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024

But maybe the dust is subjective, because my friend Maia Wyman, who critiques movies for a living, says Murnau’s 1922 film is her favorite version. —Maya Ibbitson, Architectural Digest, 23 Dec. 2024

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

Phrases Containing living

• assisted living
• beat/kick the (living) shit
• beat the (living) daylights out of
• be living on borrowed time
• cost of living
• cost-of-living index
• do for a living
• earn a living
• free-living
• honest living
• in living color
• in the land of the living
• in/within living memory
• living death
• living embodiment
• living fossil
• living language
• living legend
• living proof
• living quarters
• living room
• living standard
• living stone
• living trust
• living unit
• living wage
• living will
• make a living
• scratch a living
• scratch out a living
• standard of living
• the living

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