Phrase guide

make a living

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

verb

Meaning 1

To earn enough income to support oneself and, if applicable, one's family.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: earn a living

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To manage to find enough food to survive.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

47 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: اِرْتَزَقَ (irtazaqa) — earn enough income
  • Bulgarian: изкарвам си прехраната (izkarvam si prehranata) — earn enough income
  • Bulgarian: изкам си прехраната (izkam si prehranata) — earn enough income
  • Bulgarian: препитавам се (prepitavam se) — earn enough income
  • Bulgarian: издържам се (izdǎržam se) — earn enough income
  • Bulgarian: издържа се (izdǎrža se) — earn enough income
  • Catalan: guanyar-se la vida — earn enough income
  • Chinese Cantonese: 搵食 /揾食 (wan2 sik6) — earn enough income
  • Chinese Mandarin: 過活 /过活 (guòhuó) — earn enough income
  • Chinese Mandarin: 營生 /营生 (yíngshēng) — earn enough income
  • Chinese Mandarin: 謀生 /谋生 (móushēng) — earn enough income
  • Chinese Mandarin: 糊口 (húkǒu) — earn enough income
  • Chinese Mandarin: 混飯吃 /混饭吃 (hùnfànchī) — earn enough income
  • Czech: uživit se — earn enough income
  • Danish: dagen og vejen — earn enough income
  • Dutch: zich in zijn levensonderhoud voorzien — earn enough income
  • Finnish: tulla toimeen — earn enough income
  • Finnish: ansaita elantonsa — earn enough income
  • French: gagner sa vie — earn enough income
  • Greek: βγάζω το ψωμί μου (vgázo to psomí mou) — earn enough income
  • Hungarian: él (with -ból/-ből) — earn enough income
  • Hungarian: megél — earn enough income
  • Icelandic: komast af — earn enough income
  • Italian: guadagnarsi da vivere — earn enough income
  • Japanese: 生計を立てる (seikei o tateru) — earn enough income
  • Japanese: 食べていく (tabete iku) — earn enough income
  • Japanese: 暮らしを立てる (kurashi o tateru) — earn enough income
  • Latin: mereo — earn enough income
  • Polish: zarabiać na życie — earn enough income
  • Polish: zarobić na życie — earn enough income
  • Polish: utrzymywać się — earn enough income
  • Polish: utrzymać się — earn enough income
  • Portuguese: ganhar a vida — earn enough income
  • Romanian: a-și câștiga existența — earn enough income
  • Romanian: a-și câștiga traiul — earn enough income
  • Russian: зараба́тывать на жизнь (zarabátyvatʹ na žiznʹ) — earn enough income
  • Russian: зарабо́тать на жизнь (zarabótatʹ na žiznʹ) — earn enough income
  • Scottish Gaelic: thoir aran — earn enough income
  • Slovak: uživiť sa — earn enough income
  • Spanish: ganarse la vida — earn enough income
  • Spanish: ganarse las lentejas — earn enough income
  • Spanish: ganarse las habichuelas — earn enough income
  • Spanish: ganarse los garbanzos — earn enough income
  • Swedish: försörja sig — earn enough income
  • Swedish: tjäna sitt levebröd — earn enough income
  • Thai: ทํามาหากิน (tam-maa-hǎa-gin) — earn enough income
  • Vietnamese: kiếm sống — earn enough income