living
living — adjective
1. having life at the present time; not dead. Used to describe people, animals, pla
having life at the present time; not dead. Used to describe people, animals, plants, and other organisms that are biologically alive.
All living things need water, food, and sunlight to survive.
collocation: living things
The coral reef is home to thousands of living organisms.
collocation: living organisms
Every living being on Earth depends on the sun for energy.
collocation: living being
The forest ranger monitors every living creature in the national park.
collocation: living creature
- living thing
- living organism
- living creature
- living being
Grammar Patterns
living + noun (living thing / living organism)
Usage Note
Attributive only — almost always followed by a noun (thing, organism, creature). Predicative use ('The dog is living') is possible but rare; prefer 'alive' in that position.
Common Mistakes
2. continuing to be used or practised today, rather than being a thing of the past.
continuing to be used or practised today, rather than being a thing of the past. Often applied to languages, traditions, memories, or faiths that remain current.
Irish is a living language spoken daily in parts of western Ireland.
collocation: living language
This festival is a living tradition that has been passed down for centuries.
collocation: living tradition
That earthquake is still within living memory for many older residents.
idiom: in/within living memory
Mauricio's grandmother is a living link to the village's early history.
collocation: living link
- living language
- living tradition
- living memory
- living faith
- living link
Grammar Patterns
living + noun (living language / living memory / living tradition)
Usage Note
Always attributive. The phrase 'in living memory' means within a period that people still alive can remember. 'Living proof' (see Idioms) is a related fixed expression that uses this sense.
3. so realistic or accurate that something seems as real as if it were actually ali
so realistic or accurate that something seems as real as if it were actually alive or happening; extremely vivid and lifelike.
The sculptor created a living portrait that captured every detail of her face.
collocation: living portrait
Kasia is a living image of her mother when she was young.
idiom: living image of someone
The makeup artist turned the actor into a living statue for the street performance.
Tariro's description of the village was so vivid it felt like a living picture.
collocation: living picture
- living image
- living portrait
- living picture
- living statue
- unrealistic
not true to life
- stiff
lacking natural movement or appearance
Grammar Patterns
living + noun (living portrait / living image)
look/seem + living
Usage Note
Frequently found in the fixed phrase 'a living image of someone' meaning a very strong resemblance. Also common in artistic contexts (living portrait, living picture).
4. designed, used, or suitable for people to live in as a home rather than for work
designed, used, or suitable for people to live in as a home rather than for work or other purposes.
The apartment has a bright living room with large windows facing south.
common compound: living room
The students share a small living space with a kitchen and one bathroom.
collocation: living space
Jabari converted the basement into extra living quarters for guests.
collocation: living quarters
The new building combines living areas with ground-floor shops and cafes.
collocation: living area
- living room
- living space
- living quarters
- living area
- living accommodation
- residential
formal; describes zones or buildings rather than rooms
- habitable
focuses on suitability rather than purpose
Grammar Patterns
living + noun (living room / living space / living quarters)
Usage Note
Highly productive in compound nouns: living room, living space, living quarters, living area, living accommodation. Not used for temporary shelter (tent, hotel room).
a person whose existence or experience shows that something is true, even though it may seem unlikely or surprising.
Rania is living proof that dedication and hard work can overcome any disadvantage.
The old church is living proof that the community has existed for over a thousand years.
to frighten someone extremely badly, or to hit someone very hard and repeatedly.
The sudden crash scared the living daylights out of Lan while she was reading.
The older boys threatened to beat the living daylights out of him if he told anyone.
during a period of time that people who are still alive today can remember.
Last winter was the coldest in living memory, with snow on the ground for six weeks.
No one within living memory had seen the river flood so badly.
To hit someone very hard and repeatedly, causing serious injury.
The bully threatened to beat the daylights out of Tom.
If you touch my bike, I'll knock the living daylights out of you.
To show through your own life or actions that something is true.
Maya is living proof that hard work leads to success.
These photos are living proof of the team's dedication.
To frighten someone very severely.
The sudden loud noise scared the daylights out of Sara.
That horror movie frightened the living daylights out of me.
During a time that people who are still alive can remember.
This is the hottest summer in living memory.
No such flood had occurred within living memory.
living — noun
1. the money you earn by working, which you use to pay for the things you need such
the money you earn by working, which you use to pay for the things you need such as food, rent, and clothing. Almost always used in the phrase 'make a living' or 'earn a living'.
Indra makes a living as a freelance graphic designer for local businesses.
pattern: make a living as [job]
It is hard to earn a living from farming when the weather is so unpredictable.
pattern: earn a living from [source]
Maeve makes a good living by teaching piano lessons in her neighbourhood.
Many young people struggle to make a living in expensive cities like London or Tokyo.
pattern: make a living in [place]
- make a living
- earn a living
- good living
- decent living
- living wage
- livelihood
slightly more formal; emphasises the means of support
- income
broader; money received from any source, not just work
- wage
specifically a regular payment for hourly or daily work
Grammar Patterns
make + a + living + (as / by / from / doing)
earn + a + living + (as / by)
Usage Note
Almost always appears with the indefinite article 'a' in fixed phrases: 'make a living', 'earn a living'. The plural 'livings' is rare except in specialized financial or ecclesiastical contexts. The related phrase 'living wage' refers to a wage that covers basic needs.
Common Mistakes
2. a position in the Church of England in which a priest is responsible for a parti
a position in the Church of England in which a priest is responsible for a particular church or parish and receives a guaranteed income from it.
The bishop offered him a living in a small village in the Yorkshire countryside.
Eli was appointed to the living at St. Mary's Church after serving as a curate for five years.
pattern: appointed to a living
In the 19th century, many clergymen relied on family connections to secure a comfortable living.
historical context
After retiring from his living, the vicar continued to lead Sunday services for the community.
- appointed to a living
- presented with a living
- hold a living
- church living
Grammar Patterns
a + living + (in + place / at + church)
Usage Note
[UK, ecclesiastical — Church of England] This sense is very specific to the Anglican church structure and is rarely encountered outside the UK. Do not use for other denominations.
3. the particular way in which a person or group spends their daily life, including
the particular way in which a person or group spends their daily life, including their habits, values, routines, and choices.
Emma believes in healthy living and exercises every morning before work.
collocation: healthy living
City living can be exciting, but it is also expensive and crowded.
collocation: city living
Quan and his partner left their busy jobs to embrace a life of simple living in the mountains.
collocation: simple living
The cost of living has risen sharply over the past five years.
idiom: cost of living
- cost of living
- standard of living
- healthy living
- simple living
- city living
- country living
- lifestyle
more modern and personal; often implies choice
- existence
more general and sometimes formal
- way of life
more formal fixed phrase, often used for cultures or groups
Grammar Patterns
adjective + living (healthy living / simple living)
the + noun + living (city living / country living)
Usage Note
Widely used in compound terms: 'cost of living' (the general level of prices), 'standard of living' (quality of material comfort), 'healthy living', 'simple living'. When preceded by a noun modifier (city living, country living, apartment living) it forms a common compound describing a lifestyle category.
4. people who are alive at the present time, considered as a group. Always used wit
people who are alive at the present time, considered as a group. Always used with the definite article 'the' as a collective noun.
The living often visit cemeteries to remember those who have passed away.
pattern: the living (collective)
The ceremony honoured both the living and the dead who served in the war.
common pairing: the living and the dead
It is the responsibility of the living to preserve the stories of past generations.
According to ancient beliefs, the spirits of ancestors watch over the living.
- the living
- the living and the dead
- the living
the same — no substitute; this is the only way to express this meaning
- living persons
formal/legal alternative for individual reference
- the living ones
informal equivalent
- the dead
the direct opposite group
- the departed
euphemistic for the dead
Grammar Patterns
the + living (the living and the dead)
Usage Note
Always used as a plural collective noun with 'the'. Takes a plural verb: 'the living are...' (not 'the living is...'). Often contrasted with 'the dead' in formal or solemn contexts.
Common Mistakes
5. the state or experience of being alive; the fact that a person exists and experi
the state or experience of being alive; the fact that a person exists and experiences life from day to day.
Ishaan felt a deep appreciation for the simple joy of living after his recovery.
collocation: joy of living
The fear of dying should not stop you from enjoying the experience of living.
pattern: the [noun] of living
For many people, travel is the best part of living because it opens their minds.
The documentary explored the harsh realities of living in a war zone.
pattern: the realities of living
- joy of living
- art of living
- experience of living
- fear of living
- death
the opposite state
- non-existence
philosophical opposite
Grammar Patterns
the experience / joy / fear of living
Usage Note
Uncountable and abstract. Frequently appears in phrases like 'the art of living', 'the joy of living', 'the experience of living', 'the fear of living'. Do not confuse with the countable noun 'life' (you can have a good life, but not *a good living in this sense).
Word family
- liveverbA1
- liveadjectiveA2
- lifenounA1
- aliveadjectiveA2
- livelyadjectiveB1
- livelihoodnounB2
- lifelessadjectiveB2
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
All four words describe something that is not dead, but they differ in use and grammar. 'Alive' is the most common predicative adjective — use it after a verb: 'His grandfather is still alive.' 'Living' is primarily attributive, placed before a noun: 'all living things.' 'Breathing' emphasises the physical act and is often used in emotional or dramatic contexts ('a breathing miracle'). 'Animate' is a formal, technical term used mainly in biology and philosophy ('animate and inanimate objects'). For everyday speech, learners should prioritise 'alive' after verbs and 'living' before nouns. For example: 'Are your grandparents still alive?' and 'We studied living organisms in class.'
Common collocations
Nouns
- standard of living
- cost of living
- quality of living
Phrases
- make a living
- earn a living
- living proof
- within living memory
Etymology
From Old English 'libbende' and 'lifiende', which are the present participle forms of 'libban' (to live). The word has been in continuous use since before the 12th century. The noun sense 'livelihood' developed in the Middle English period, and the ecclesiastical meaning (a benefice) dates from the 16th century.