the financial means whereby one lives
"each child was expected to pay for their keep"
"he applied to the state for support"
"he could no longer earn his own livelihood"
The state of being alive.
"She felt a sudden rush of joy when she saw her cat living and well after years of illness."
In plain English: Living is the state of being alive and functioning as an organism.
"They were moved to a house that was more suited for their living."
Usage: Use "living" as a noun to refer collectively to human beings or animals that are currently alive, often seen in phrases like "the living and the dead." Avoid using it as a standalone noun for an individual person; instead, use "a living thing" or simply "a person."
present participle of live
"The living room was filled with laughter as everyone gathered around the fire."
In plain English: To live means to be alive and breathing rather than dead.
"The elderly couple has been living in that small cottage for over thirty years."
Usage: Use "living" as a verb only when describing an action happening right now, such as "The cat is living in the garden." Do not use it to describe permanent states or identities, where the base form "live" is correct, like "She lives alone."
(informal) absolute
"she is a living doll"
"scared the living daylights out of them"
"beat the living hell out of him"
(used of minerals or stone) in its natural state and place; not mined or quarried
"carved into the living stone"
Having life; alive.
"After finding that pulse, the doctor confirmed the victim was still living."
In plain English: Living describes something that is currently happening or being done right now.
"We need to make sure the living room has enough space for all our furniture."
Usage: Use "living" as an adjective to describe someone or something that is currently alive and has not died, such as in "a living friend." Do not use it to mean merely existing or being present, which requires the simple form "alive."
The word "living" comes from Middle English and Old English, where it originally served as the present participle of the verb meaning "to live." It entered modern usage directly from these earlier forms without a significant shift in its core sense.