live off

verb

lived off; living off; lives off

transitive verb

: 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

Examples of live off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some were living off emergency food supplies — powdered peanut butter and apple sauce, said BJ Thorn, whose son defended their home with a garden hose. —Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025

The seals live off the southern California and Pacific coast of Mexico and will travel far distances from their breeding grounds. —Brooke Baitinger, Sacramento Bee, 14 Jan. 2025

Boschma started making TikTok videos after quitting her job working on a horse farm, choosing to live off of her savings while experimenting as a creator. —Salvador Rodriguez, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2025

Inspired by the loggerhead turtle, the indigenous sea turtle species loved by those who live off the coast of Florida, the project celebrates both the region’s wildlife and its vibrant arts community. —Su-Jit Lin, Southern Living, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1609, in the meaning defined above