# live on

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/live-on
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to have a certain amount of money or a specific type of food to survive. You use this when talking about how you pay for your life or what you eat every day.

For teachers: to subsist or support oneself using a particular source of income or type of food. This phrasal verb is inseparable and requires a prepositional object in this sense.

## Examples

- I can't live on such a small salary.
- When she was a student, she had to live on pasta and canned soup for months to save money for her travels.
- The indigenous population continues to live on the natural resources provided by the rainforest, despite increasing pressure from industrial logging and climate change.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They live on from their savings." but "They live on their savings." — The preposition 'on' connects directly to the source of income without needing 'from'.

## Usage notes

- The object is usually a currency amount, a source of funds, or a specific food item.
- Teaching tip: Distinguish between the 'subsistence' meaning and the 'legacy' meaning (e.g., 'his work lives on') to avoid confusion in literary contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.