What does living mean?
Living has several related meanings, all connected with life. As an adjective, it can describe something that is alive, such as a plant, animal, or person, or something currently in use, such as a language, tradition, or condition. It also appears in expressions connected with everyday existence, including "living conditions," "living wage," and "standard of living." As a noun, "the living" means people who are alive, while "a living" means the work or income by which someone supports themselves. When used as a participle, as in "living abroad" or "living quietly," it forms the present participle of "live" and shows that an action is ongoing. The word is especially useful because it links the literal idea of being alive with the social and practical experience of maintaining life. It is also the source of related words such as alive, lively, and livelihood.
Alive; having life, or currently existing or in use.
"Every living organism depends on energy from its environment."
The phrase "the living" refers collectively to people who are alive.
The present participle of "live," indicating an action that is ongoing.
"They have been living in the same apartment for years."
In this form, "living" follows "have" in the present perfect or follows "be" in progressive tenses.
The people who are alive, or a person's livelihood or means of support.
"The novel is concerned with the living conditions of workers in the industrial city."
The plural "livings" can mean people's livelihoods or standards of living.
Used mainly in the sense of people's livelihoods or, in literary contexts, the conditions in which people live.
"The family earns a modest living from farming."
From "living" come words about life itself: alive, lively, livelihood, and lifetime all share its root.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does living come from?
Living is the present participle of "live" and developed from the same Germanic root meaning to remain alive. The root is also reflected in alive, lively, livelihood, and lifetime. The adjectival use meaning "alive" and the extended senses meaning "current" or "associated with everyday life" developed naturally from the word's connection with ongoing existence.
Related word forms
How living is actually used
In its adjectival senses, "living" is common in both formal and informal English. "The living" often has a moral or religious contrast with "the dead," while "a living" in the sense of livelihood is more common in literary, legal, and biographical contexts.
Easily confused with living
Living generally means alive or currently in use, whereas lively describes something animated, energetic, or full of activity.
Living can mean alive or belonging to everyday life, while livable describes a place or situation that is suitable to live in.