# living thing

CEFR A2 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/living-thing
Updated: 2026-08-05

## Definition

any life form that can grow, breathe, and reproduce, such as a person, animal, or plant.

For teachers: a biological organism that exhibits the characteristics of life, including metabolism, growth, and response to stimuli. Used as a countable noun to distinguish organic life from inanimate objects.

## Examples

- Every living thing needs water to survive.
- The scientist studied how every living thing in the pond interacted with the environment.
- The ethical debate centered on whether a virus should be classified as a living thing or merely a complex organic structure.

## Usage notes

- usually functions as a countable noun and often appears in the plural form 'living things'.
- Teaching tip: use this to teach the distinction between 'living' (biological state) and 'alive' (adjective); 'living thing' is a standard compound for 'organism' in non-scientific 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.