make a living
idiom
: to earn the money one needs to pay for housing, food, etc.
He made a living by working as a cook.
Examples of make a living in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The three men are all longtime Miami residents who have experienced homelessness and rely on donations to make a living, according to the complaint.
—
Vivienne Serret, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025
Will Los Angeles still be a place where middle class, below-the-line entertainment workers can make a living and new productions can pencil out, or has the city permanently ceded that ground?
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Justina Machado's Penelope Alvarez is a deeply venerable and vulnerable mom, trying her best to make a living and raise good humans with the help of her mother Lydia (the legendary Rita Moreno).
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 10 May 2025
Money’s Rich In Trade Work While job satisfaction is great, the critical aspect of any job is to make a living, to pay for food, shelter, and all of life’s necessities.
—Jennifer Castenson, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
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Vivienne Serret, Miami Herald, 28 May 2025
Will Los Angeles still be a place where middle class, below-the-line entertainment workers can make a living and new productions can pencil out, or has the city permanently ceded that ground?
—Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
Justina Machado's Penelope Alvarez is a deeply venerable and vulnerable mom, trying her best to make a living and raise good humans with the help of her mother Lydia (the legendary Rita Moreno).
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 10 May 2025
Money’s Rich In Trade Work While job satisfaction is great, the critical aspect of any job is to make a living, to pay for food, shelter, and all of life’s necessities.
—Jennifer Castenson, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for make a living
Cite this Entry
“Make a living.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make%20a%20living. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
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