live by

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

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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.
These are two of the technical standards that the world will soon live by. — Matthew Gould, Washington Post, 10 Aug. 2026 The glamorous nuptials were broadcast live by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios to more than 30 million viewers. — Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026 But right now, the example of a good life lived by a decent person feels like an unnervingly radical thing. — Ian Penman, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 Racine is also seeing more people move in than out, suggesting that buyers are increasingly looking beyond the country’s coastlines for affordable places to live by the water. — Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for live by

Rhymes for live by

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Browse Nearby Words

live-box
live by
live by one's wits
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Cite this Entry

“Live by.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/live%20by. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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