living

/ˈlɪvɪŋ/
alive or having life

The living room is where the family gathers.

The room is used for socializing and relaxation.


general

alive or having life

Plants need sunlight to stay living.

Plants require sunlight to remain alive.

Often used to distinguish from 'dead' or 'inanimate'.

general

the act of being alive or the way one lives

Her living is simple and peaceful.

Her lifestyle is uncomplicated and serene.

Can refer to lifestyle or daily existence.

general

a person's current residence

They moved to a new living space last month.

They relocated to a new home last month.

Common in real estate and housing contexts.

Collocations

living rooma room for relaxation and socializingliving conditionsthe quality of one's housing and environmentliving wagea wage sufficient to meet basic needs

Related Phrases

living deadphrase
zombies or the undead
living largephrase
living extravagantly

Pro Tip

Adjective vs. Noun

As an adjective, 'living' describes something alive. As a noun, it refers to a lifestyle or residence.

Gold Rule

Avoid Redundancy

Do not use 'living dead' for zombies; 'undead' is more precise.

Word Origin

From Middle English 'livinge', from Old English 'lifende', present participle of 'libban' (to live).

Usage Notes

Can function as an adjective (describing something alive) or a noun (referring to a lifestyle or residence).

Word Breakdown

live
to be alive
root
+
-ing
present participle or noun form
suffix
English Dictionary