English Reference

Word

living

Phoneticsliv·ing, stress on the first syllable

US/ˈɫɪvɪŋ/

UK/lˈɪvɪŋ/

Definitions

01money for life

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun

n. the money you earn to pay for food, housing, and other needs.

n. a means of maintaining life or a livelihood; the financial resources required for subsistence.

“He makes a living by selling handmade furniture online.”

“After the factory closed, many residents struggled to find a new way to earn a living in such a remote area.”

Usage

Commonly used in the phrase 'make a living'.

02lifestyle

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. the way that you live your life.

n. a particular manner or style of life.

“The doctor recommended healthy living and more exercise.”

“The book explores the benefits of sustainable living in modern urban environments.”

Usage

Often follows an adjective like 'healthy', 'clean', or 'simple'.

03the living

B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun

n. people who are currently alive.

n. those who are alive, collectively; usually preceded by the definite article.

“The memorial was built to remind the living of the sacrifices made in the past.”

“The poet often contrasted the concerns of the living with the silence of the graveyard.”

Synonyms

the alive

Antonyms

the dead

04alive

A2 · Elementary

adj. having life; not dead.

adj. possessing life; currently alive and not dead or inanimate.

“Every living thing in the garden needs water during the heatwave.”

“The biologist spent years studying the unique characteristics of every living organism found in the deep-sea trench.”

Synonyms

Antonyms

05active or current

B2 · Upper Intermediate

adj. still being used or active today.

adj. currently in use, existing, or active; not obsolete or static.

“English is a living language that changes every year.”

“The constitution is often described as a living document that must be interpreted in the context of modern society.”

Antonyms

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “living” in context.

Verb

01. cost of living

“The cost of living has risen sharply over the last year.”

noun + prep + noun

02. standard of living

“The country has seen a significant rise in the standard of living.”

noun + prep + noun

Adjective

03. comfortable living

“The job pays enough to provide a comfortable living for his family.”

adj + noun

04. living costs

05. living organisms

06. living room

07. living crisis

08. living conditions

09. living nearby

10. living with their parents

11. living cells

12. concurrent living

Etymology

From Middle English livynge, libbyng, livinde, livand, livende, libbinde, libbende, from Old English lifiġende, lifiende, libbende, from Proto-West Germanic libbjandī, from Proto-Germanic libjandz (“living”), present participle of Proto-Germanic *libjaną (“to live”), equivalent to live + -ing. Cognate with West Frisian libbend (“living”), Dutch levend (“living”), German lebend (“living”), Swedish levande (“living”), Icelandic lifandi (“living”).

From Middle English livynge, libbynge, equivalent to live + -ing. Cognate with Middle Dutch levinge, (whence Dutch leving (“way of life, living”)), Middle Low German lēvinge (“living”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

NOUN

living(B1)

ADJECTIVE

Related words

Idioms

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
Frequency
Very common
Level
B1 · IntermediateOxford
Updated

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