live off
verb
lived off; living off; lives off
: to use (something or someone) as the main source of what one needs to survive (such as money or food)
… the indigenous … people, who have inhabited the rain forest of Irian Jaya, living off the land, for thousands of years.—Eyal Press
… the fish goes into a kind of hibernation, living off its reserves of fat …—Mark Carwardine
… she is one of the few Iditarod competitors who have turned professional, living off race winnings.—National Wildlife
… a growing subculture of people who have reduced their spending habits and live off consumer waste.—Erika Hayasaki
Max lives off his father …—Harold Beaver
Cite this Entry
“Live off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/live%20off. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.
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