earn livelihood

USAGE SUMMARY

"earn livelihood" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to make a living or to earn enough money to support oneself. Example: Ahmed worked hard every day to earn his livelihood as a farmer.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

All they think of is of working the whole day and night to earn livelihood for their family back home.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Sometimes the effects of land development by investors increase siltation and sedimentation of rivers upon which local communities earn livelihoods through fishing (Joeman 2011).

Ecological Processes

Harriet founded Rhythm of Life, a Ugandan organization that helps young girls escape from the sex trade, go to school, and earn livelihoods free of violence and disease.

Huffington Post

We, too, have passion, we, too earn livelihoods, some of us are very career-orientated, and some of us excel in our chosen fields.

Huffington Post

Though farming is not a major source of earning livelihood but selected terrain is used to cultivate crops.

Applied Water Science

The control sites were selected from neighboring districts, which were matched by geographical location, ethnicity, means of earning livelihoods and economic status.

BMC Health Services Research

Mr. Heller said TLC had treated Mr. Gosselin "like a dog by attempting to keep him on a leash and muzzle him and deny the father of eight the opportunity to earn a livelihood to support his family".

The New York Times

It was also reported that many students were forced to leave their studies due to lack of funds or to earn a livelihood because they had lost income-earning members of their families.

Wikipedia

The human populations considered to be at highest risk of infection with this zoonotic helminth are people living in rural areas most of whom earn their livelihood wholly or partially through livestock rearing.

Veterinary Parasitology

How should I earn my livelihood?

The Guardian

"We're all just trying to earn our livelihood".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about economic activities or policies, use "earn livelihood" to emphasize the effort and means by which people support themselves, especially in contexts of labor and economic development.

Common error

Avoid using "earn livelihood" when simply referring to hobbies or unpaid activities. This phrase specifically denotes how someone secures their basic needs and financial support, not just any activity that occupies their time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "earn livelihood" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating the action of securing the basic necessities for survival through work or other means. Ludwig AI affirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

37%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "earn livelihood" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the process of securing the basic necessities for survival through work or other means. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a usable and correct phrase. The phrase is frequently used in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, remember to focus on the broader scope of sustainable living and economic activity, rather than casual hobbies. Consider alternatives like ""make a living"" or "support oneself" depending on the specific context and desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make a living

Focuses on the act of earning enough money to live.

support oneself

Emphasizes self-reliance in obtaining necessary resources.

provide for oneself

Highlights the action of supplying one's own needs.

secure an income

Focuses on obtaining a regular source of money.

gainful employment

Implies employment that provides a good wage or profit.

make ends meet

Suggests earning just enough to cover basic expenses.

econoical self-sufficiency

More formally expresses the condition of being able to support oneself financially.

subsist

Focuses on maintaining life, often with minimal resources.

earn one's keep

Suggests earning what is needed for basic necessities like food and shelter.

be self-supporting

Highlights the state of being able to provide all necessary support for oneself.

FAQs

How can I use "earn livelihood" in a sentence?

You can use "earn livelihood" to describe how someone supports themselves financially, such as "Many farmers in the region struggle to "make a living" due to climate change".

What are some alternatives to saying "earn livelihood"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like ""make a living"", "support oneself", or "secure an income" as alternatives to "earn livelihood".

Is it more appropriate to say "earn a livelihood" or "earn livelihood"?

Both forms are grammatically correct. The inclusion of the indefinite article "a" often depends on stylistic choice or the flow of the sentence. The form without the article, "earn livelihood", is equally valid and frequently used.

What is the difference between "earn livelihood" and "earn a living"?

While very similar, "earn livelihood" often implies a broader context of sustainable living and economic activity, whereas "earn a living" more directly refers to securing income for immediate needs. The two expressions are often interchangeable.