make a living

phrase

: to earn the money one needs to pay for housing, food, etc.
He made a living by working as a cook.

Examples of make a living in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Fishing has long dried up in Snook’s Arm, so Calvin and his son Wade (Charlie Heaton) make a living by collecting ice for a local vodka brewery and running an Airbnb out of their home. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 Many mid- and late-career working-class comics who would normally build the bridge to younger generations are struggling to make a living. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026 For sellers trying to make a living from secondhand clothing, the work extends well beyond posting listings. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026 The Basque people came from Europe to America in search of work in the late 1800s, when sheepherding was a way to make a living. — Mindy Sink, Denver Post, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for make a living

Rhymes for make a living

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Browse Nearby Words

make a hash of
make a living
make allowance for
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Cite this Entry

“Make a living.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make%20a%20living. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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