live by

phrasal verb

lived by; living by; lives by
1
: to agree with and follow (something, such as a set of beliefs)
He tried to live by his faith.
a principle I try to live by
2
: to survive by (doing something)
They were an ancient people who lived by hunting and gathering.

Examples of live by in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Prosecutors say a text conversation with his roommate, a confession to his parents and DNA evidence on a rifle found near the university will be the first steps in proving Robinson is responsible for the murder witnessed live by hundreds of people. Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025 Sam Brick, who lives by the intersection, recalled watching the SUV barrel through the intersection where the crash occurred, according to WSB-TV. Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025 The end results reflect the volatility of living by the long shot — Golden State strung together four consecutive wins in mid-August, followed by three straight losses, then five straight Ws and then three more Ls. Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025 Importantly, the governed have consented to being governed and to live by the laws of the land. Big Think, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for live by

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Live by.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/live%20by. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!