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make a living

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˌmeɪk ə ˈlɪvɪŋ/

make a living means: To earn enough money to pay for the things you and your family need.

verb

EARN ENOUGHB1

To earn enough money to pay for the things you and your family need.

  • I make a living teaching.
  • She made a living as a photographer.
  • Can you make a living from selling your art?

How to use it: make a living doing something (She makes a living repairing bicycles.); make a living from something (They make a living from farming.); make a living as someone (He makes a living as a translator.)

Similar words: earn a living, support oneself

Common phrases: make a living, make a living writing

FIND ENOUGH FOODC1

To find enough food to stay alive.

  • These birds make a living catching insects.
  • The fox made a living by hunting near the river.
  • Few animals can make a living in this dry landscape.

How to use it: make a living by doing something (These birds make a living by catching insects.); make a living on something (The animals make a living on roots and berries.)

Similar words: subsist, survive

Common phrases: make a living, make a living hunting

Questions about make a living

What does make a living mean?

To earn enough money to pay for the things you and your family need.

What is make a living in other languages?

Türkçe: geçimini sağlamak · Español: ganarse la vida · Français: gagner sa vie · Deutsch: seinen Lebensunterhalt verdienen · Italiano: guadagnarsi da vivere · 日本語: 生計を立てる

How do you pronounce make a living?

It is pronounced /ˌmeɪk ə ˈlɪvɪŋ/.

How do you use make a living in a sentence?

I make a living teaching. She made a living as a photographer.

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make a living in other languages

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