living
16 synonyms and 2 antonyms for living, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Alive, currently existing (as opposed to dead or extinct).
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use living
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From live + the suffix -ing.
Full origin of living →Frequently asked questions
What does “living” mean?
The word “living” means alive, currently existing (as opposed to dead or extinct). In plain terms, being alive, or the way/means by which someone supports themselves.
How do you pronounce “living”?
“Living” is pronounced LIH-vihng (/ˈlɪvɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “living” in a sentence?
Here is “living” used in a sentence: “She is the last living member of that generation.”
What is another word for “living”?
Words with a similar meaning to “living” include vital, blasted, doggone, stinking, extant and lifey.
What is the opposite of “living”?
The opposite of “living” — its antonyms — are dead and nonliving.
What part of speech is “living”?
Depending on how it is used, “living” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “living” a common word?
“Living” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “living” have?
“Living” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: alive, currently existing (as opposed to dead or extinct).
What is the difference between "living" and "alive"?
They mean the same thing but sit differently in a sentence. "Living" usually comes before a noun — "living creatures," "the living world." "Alive" comes after a verb — "the fish is alive." You would say "a living plant" but "the plant is alive," rarely the other way round.
What is the difference between "living" and "live"?
As adjectives, "living" means currently alive, while "live" (rhyming with "hive") often means happening in real time or carrying energy, as in "live music" or "live wire." For a creature that is alive rather than dead, "living" is the natural choice; "live animals" appears mainly in trade or transport.
What is the opposite of "living"?
The main opposites are "dead" and, for a whole species, "extinct." "Living" describes something currently alive and existing, so its opposites cover things that have died or no longer exist at all. "Non-living" is also used in science for objects that were never alive, such as rocks or metal.
What is an example of a living thing?
Any organism that grows, takes in energy, and reproduces is a living thing — people, animals, plants, fungi, and bacteria all qualify. Scientists contrast these with non-living matter like stone or water. A defining test is whether it carries out life processes such as respiration, growth, and reproduction.