live for the moment

Idioms

Concentrate on the present, with little or no concern for the future. For example, Instead of putting aside funds for the children's education, Jane and Jim live for the moment, spending whatever they earn. [Mid-1900s] Also see for the moment; day to day, def. 2.

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.

"And if they feel they're never going to be able to get out of a situation, they think they might as well live for the moment."

From Salon • Feb. 1, 2025

So she now wants to live for the moment and to try to put it out of her mind.

From BBC • Jun. 18, 2024

In a statement, Pastrana said the stunts were “an opportunity to pay tribute to the man who inspired a generation to live for the moment and not be afraid to take chances.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 9, 2018

We live, for the moment, in that rare baseball weather pattern in which the skies are sunnier over Queens than over the Bronx.

From New York Times • Apr. 10, 2017

Most serious of all, perhaps, western peoples are learning to ignore principle, live for the moment, satisfy their already sated appetites and pay little or no attention to the future.

From Civilization and Beyond Learning from History by Nearing, Scott

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023