earn a living
idiom
: to earn the money needed for food, clothing, etc.
She's just trying to earn a living.
Examples of earn a living in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In advance of the ceremony, the finalists were asked an essential question:
Orwell claimed that prose writers have four ‘great motivations’ (putting aside the need to earn a living): sheer egoism; aesthetic enthusiasm; historical impulse; and political purpose.
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Literary Hub, 16 June 2025
Though anyone in Lake County might need to call 211, Graves said a larger percentage are those living below the poverty level, 8%, or who do not earn a living wage, 26%, are knowledgeable.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2025
Young claimed the story destroyed his reputation and ability to earn a living — driving his annual income from $350,000 to zero — and caused severe emotional and psychological distress.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
During those years, the Brontës’ driving concern, propelled by the knowledge that they would be evicted from the Haworth parish house after their father’s death, is how to earn a living.
—Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2025
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Literary Hub, 16 June 2025
Though anyone in Lake County might need to call 211, Graves said a larger percentage are those living below the poverty level, 8%, or who do not earn a living wage, 26%, are knowledgeable.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2025
Young claimed the story destroyed his reputation and ability to earn a living — driving his annual income from $350,000 to zero — and caused severe emotional and psychological distress.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
During those years, the Brontës’ driving concern, propelled by the knowledge that they would be evicted from the Haworth parish house after their father’s death, is how to earn a living.
—Heller McAlpin, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for earn a living
Cite this Entry
“Earn a living.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earn%20a%20living. Accessed 20 Jun. 2025.
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