living

liv·ing / ˈliving/ • n. 1. [usu. in sing.] an income sufficient to live on or the means of earning it: she was struggling to make a living as a dancer what does he do for a living? ∎  Brit. (in church use) a position as a vicar or rector with an income or property. 2. [with adj.] the pursuit of a lifestyle of the specified type: the benefits of country living. • adj. alive: living creatures| [as plural n.] (the living) flowers were for the living. ∎  (of a place) used for living rather than working in: the living quarters of the ship. ∎  (of a language) still spoken and used. ∎  poetic/literary (of water) perennially flowing: streams of living water. PHRASES: be (the) living proof that (or of) show by one's existence and qualities that something is the case: she is living proof that hard work need not be aging. in (or within) living memory within or during a time that is remembered by people still alive: the worst recession in living memory. the living image of an exact copy or likeness of.