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.
Recent Examples on the WebMindy Weisberger, CNN, 26 Mar. 2024
This trend encourages you to blend diverse elements that create a visually-striking living environment.
—Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Jan. 2024
Bonobos and chimpanzees, our closest living relatives, maintain similar social dynamics.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2023
Along with chimpanzees, bonobos are some of our closest living relatives.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 16 Nov. 2023
Freezing temperatures made living conditions inside the plane fuselage incredibly harsh, and the survivors were weakened by exposure.
—Madeleine Kearns, National Review, 8 Feb. 2024
Wilbur is a living example of what DockDogs is all about.
—Brent Frazee, Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2024
The front entry, sitting room, and staircase were left largely untouched, but they’re now connected to an airier, family-friendly living space.
—Christine Lennon, Sunset Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
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
David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024
Likewise, the cost of living is lowest in states including Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Alabama, and yet these states fall in the national rankings due to factors such as higher senior poverty rates and Medicare spending.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2024
The third phase, which was completed in early 2022, includes a chic pickleball court surrounded by fragrant Mexican marigold, a wooden hot tub, and a spectacular outdoor kitchen and living area that nearly doubles the square footage of the family’s communal living space.
—Christine Lennon, Sunset Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
The space also includes folding glass doors for easy indoor/outdoor living.
—Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
The work outside Tran’s home entailed stripping every living thing out of the old backyard, adding pavers underneath a preexisting pergola, laying down artificial turf, and installing a perimeter of drought-resistant plants with a self-watering irrigation system.
—Rachel Kurzius, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024
Proceeds help The Arc of San Diego provide services such as day training, employment and residential living services to more than 2,000 children and adults with disabilities.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2024
The cost of living and the experience of living abroad were central motivators, but violence in the U.S. – particularly racial violence – played a key role for Mr. Bangs, who is Black.
—Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Mar. 2024
Once inside, a foyer displaying herringbone-style cherry floors and a sweeping staircase greets and flows to three-story living space highlighted by an elevator to all levels, seven fireplaces, and high-tech home-automation, security and surveillance systems.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Its closest living relatives are river dolphins living more than 6,000 miles (10,000 kilometers) away in South Asia, according to researchers who recently described the previously unknown extinct mammal.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 26 Mar. 2024
This trend encourages you to blend diverse elements that create a visually-striking living environment.
—Christianna Silva, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Jan. 2024
Bonobos and chimpanzees, our closest living relatives, maintain similar social dynamics.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2023
Along with chimpanzees, bonobos are some of our closest living relatives.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 16 Nov. 2023
Freezing temperatures made living conditions inside the plane fuselage incredibly harsh, and the survivors were weakened by exposure.
—Madeleine Kearns, National Review, 8 Feb. 2024
Wilbur is a living example of what DockDogs is all about.
—Brent Frazee, Kansas City Star, 31 Jan. 2024
The front entry, sitting room, and staircase were left largely untouched, but they’re now connected to an airier, family-friendly living space.
—Christine Lennon, Sunset Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
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
Noun
California’s unemployment rate was the nation’s highest in February, as the high cost of living and the loss of construction, machinery and agriculture jobs hit hard.
—David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024
Likewise, the cost of living is lowest in states including Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Alabama, and yet these states fall in the national rankings due to factors such as higher senior poverty rates and Medicare spending.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2024
The third phase, which was completed in early 2022, includes a chic pickleball court surrounded by fragrant Mexican marigold, a wooden hot tub, and a spectacular outdoor kitchen and living area that nearly doubles the square footage of the family’s communal living space.
—Christine Lennon, Sunset Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
The space also includes folding glass doors for easy indoor/outdoor living.
—Natalia Senanayake, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
The work outside Tran’s home entailed stripping every living thing out of the old backyard, adding pavers underneath a preexisting pergola, laying down artificial turf, and installing a perimeter of drought-resistant plants with a self-watering irrigation system.
—Rachel Kurzius, Washington Post, 2 Apr. 2024
Proceeds help The Arc of San Diego provide services such as day training, employment and residential living services to more than 2,000 children and adults with disabilities.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2024
The cost of living and the experience of living abroad were central motivators, but violence in the U.S. – particularly racial violence – played a key role for Mr. Bangs, who is Black.
—Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Mar. 2024
Once inside, a foyer displaying herringbone-style cherry floors and a sweeping staircase greets and flows to three-story living space highlighted by an elevator to all levels, seven fireplaces, and high-tech home-automation, security and surveillance systems.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2024
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 16 Apr. 2024.
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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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