make a living
idiom
: 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
Recent Examples on the Web
For people who make a living selling these mushrooms, consider adding a note that this species is invasive and should be cultivated indoors and not composted.
—
Aishwarya Veerabahu, The Conversation, 16 July 2025
Every day, thousands of street vendors set up shop on a piece of pavement in Los Angeles and beyond to make a living and create a path out of poverty or to have their own bricks-and-mortar one day.
—Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
This makes fine sense, especially if you’re bound to make a living off it.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 10 July 2025
Joss Whedon’s steampunk cult hit follows the crew of the Serenity, a group of intergalactic outlaw cowboys trying to make a living in the fallout of a devastating civil war.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for make a living
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Aishwarya Veerabahu, The Conversation, 16 July 2025
Every day, thousands of street vendors set up shop on a piece of pavement in Los Angeles and beyond to make a living and create a path out of poverty or to have their own bricks-and-mortar one day.
—Fidel Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2025
This makes fine sense, especially if you’re bound to make a living off it.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 10 July 2025
Joss Whedon’s steampunk cult hit follows the crew of the Serenity, a group of intergalactic outlaw cowboys trying to make a living in the fallout of a devastating civil war.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for make a living
Cite this Entry
“Make a living.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/make%20a%20living. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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