cohabitating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cohabitating" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of living together in a romantic or domestic relationship without being married. Example: "After dating for two years, they decided to start cohabitating to see how well they could manage their lives together."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

In this 100-mile stretch of river, the symbol and the service have a tough time cohabitating.

The New York Times

The chickens spent the next two days there, cohabitating just fine with the couple's seven cats, until the coop could be cleaned and set safely upright.

The New York Times

On the show, she opened up about problems like her boyfriend's refusing to discuss cohabitating and her father's apparent lack of affection for her.

The New York Times

The increase in unmarried couples cohabitating and having children swept poor communities beginning in the late 1960s, Mr. Wilcox said, citing data from the National Survey of Family Growth, and now has moved into working class and lower-middle-class families.

The New York Times

Second, Sweden's high out-of-wedlock birth rate notwithstanding, Swedish children are more likely than Americans to grow up with both parents in the household: The marriage rate may be lower, in other words, but Swedish families are more stable even when the parents are cohabitating rather than joined in matrimony.

The New York Times

The four men, all heterosexual, approaching 40 and never married, have lived together for 18 years, give or take a revolving guest roommate, cohabitating in spaces like an East Village walk-up, a Chelsea loft and, now, a converted office space in Queens.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Most jumping spiders are solitary, and with a few exceptions, such as certain species that mimic ants and when adult males cohabitate with females jumping spiders do not nest together.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Following mass arrests at a warm-up gig in Ireland and memories of his last appearance at this festival in 2001 that coincided with a mini-riot at its Leeds sister, Eminem was greeted by a hedonistic crowd where rock and dance fans cohabitated peacefully.

Independent

In theory this might be an interesting idea; after all, there is no reason that the realist and avant-garde traditions can't cohabitate.

The New York Times - Books

The New York designer is known for effortless-looking rooms in which comfy upholstered pieces cohabitate happily with classical 18th- and 19th-century furniture and art and design from the 1960s and '70s.

The New York Times

France's six million sheep, Mr. Préveraud said, cannot reasonably be expected to "cohabitate" with wolves.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cohabitating" when you want to specifically refer to unmarried couples living together, especially in sociological or legal contexts. Be mindful of the connotations, as it can sometimes carry a slightly more formal or clinical tone than simply "living together".

Common error

Avoid using "cohabitating" as a direct synonym for "married". While it describes a shared living situation, it specifically implies the absence of a marital bond. Using it interchangeably can be misleading and insensitive.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "cohabitating" is that of a verb, specifically a present participle, often used to describe an ongoing action or state. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples, illustrating its use in describing people or entities that are currently living together.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "cohabitating" accurately describes the act of living together, especially in the context of unmarried partners. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that it is grammatically correct and frequently used, particularly in news and media. While it's generally neutral in tone, it can be more formal than simply saying "living together". When writing, be aware of potential connotations and avoid using it as a direct substitute for "married". Related phrases offer alternative ways to express the idea of shared living arrangements, each with slight differences in meaning and formality. In conclusion, "cohabitating" is a useful and widely understood term for describing a specific type of living arrangement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

living together

A more general term that doesn't necessarily imply a romantic relationship.

co-residing

A less common but technically accurate synonym for "cohabitating".

sharing a residence

Focuses on the practical aspect of sharing a home, without implying any specific relationship.

dwelling together

A more formal and less common way to say "living together".

residing together

Similar to "dwelling together", emphasizing the act of living in the same place.

setting up house together

Implies a deliberate and planned decision to live together.

nesting together

Evokes a sense of building a home and life together.

rooming together

Typically implies a less intimate arrangement, like roommates.

keeping house together

An older expression referring to the practical aspects of maintaining a household together.

shacking up

An informal and sometimes pejorative term for living together.

FAQs

What does "cohabitating" mean?

"Cohabitating" means living together in a domestic relationship without being married. It's often used to describe couples who share a home and life together but haven't formalized their relationship through marriage.

Is "cohabitating" the same as "living together"?

While similar, "cohabitating" often implies a more committed relationship than simply "living together", which can also refer to roommates or other non-romantic arrangements.

Are there any negative connotations associated with "cohabitating"?

Historically, "cohabitating" carried some social stigma, but this has largely diminished. However, in some contexts, it may still be perceived as less formal or traditional than marriage.

What are some alternatives to "cohabitating"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "sharing a residence", "dwelling together", or, more informally, "shacking up".