live-in
adjective
Also residing at the place of one's employment.
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live-in
American
[liv-in]
/ ˈlɪvˌɪn /
adjective
-
Also residing at the place of one's employment.
a live-in maid.
-
living in a cohabitant relationship.
noun
live in
British
/ lɪv /
verb
adjective
-
living in the place at which one works
a live-in maid
-
living with someone else in that person's home
a live-in lover
live in
Idioms
-
Reside in one's place of employment or schooling, as in They wanted a baby-sitter who could live in , or Joe was planning to live in at the college . This expression is used primarily for domestic servants or students. [Late 1800s] Also see live out .
-
live in something . Continue in existence, memory, or some feeling. This sense appears in such phrases as live in the past , meaning “to concentrate on past memories,” or live in hope of , meaning “to continue anticipating that something will happen.” For example, Alice lived in the past; she had no interest in current events , or Jim lived in hope of getting a teaching post . Also see live in sin .
Etymology
Origin of live-in
1950–55; adj., noun use of verb phrase live in ( a place )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Kenneth Iwamasa, who made $150,000 a year as a live-in assistant to Matthew Perry, faces up to 15 years in prison at his sentencing hearing Wednesday for his role in the actor’s death.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026
He and his live-in girlfriend mingled their finances.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 18, 2026
But her live-in partner, Adam Little, has been struggling to find work as a factory machine operator since 2023.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 8, 2026
Today, Rob requires round-the-clock live-in care, but he is able to take part in hobbies such as going to the gym, hanging out with his dog Denzel, and going to the pub with his friends.
From BBC ● Jan. 24, 2026
And what if the Carutherses decided they didn’t need as much live-in help before their financials were sorted?
From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland
Those who have seen Gough live in action have only good things to say.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Those granted the visa are eligible to work, study and live in the UK, putting them on a pathway to citizenship after they settle in the UK.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Since I live in Pennsylvania, I understand that I will owe a 15% inheritance tax, leaving me with approximately $17,000 to invest or save.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026
An estimated 350,000 Haitians live in the United States under the program, with many working in healthcare and construction.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
“It explains why all those paintings are painted from above. You live in the sky. And Edward Ashton has been searching for you on land, all these years.”
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
