live with

verb

To share an abode as an unmarried partner in a sexual relationship.

Meanings

verblive with (third-person singular simple present lives with, present participle living with, simple past and past participle lived with)

present singular third person lives with · participle present living with · participle past lived with · past lived with

  1. idiomatictransitiveTo share an abode as an unmarried partner in a sexual relationship.
  2. idiomatictransitiveTo regard as adequate or manageable although not entirely satisfactory; to accept; to tolerate.

    Israelis don't like the rioting and Molotov cocktails, but they can live with it.

    2000 November 6, Matt Rees, “Mideast Cease-Fire: 'Peres Is Not Very Hopeful'”, in Time
    3 more examples

    France's final terms for an Indochina settlement would be terms which the United States can live with.

    1954 July 16, “Smith Is Ready to Enter Negotiations at Geneva”, in Spokane Daily Chronicle, retrieved 23 Jul 2011, page 2

    In school systems, leaders have to live with collectivist ideals, which very often get in the way of meaningful and necessary change.

    2011 April 8, Neal P. McCluskey, “Business Success Is Easier”, in New York Times, retrieved 23 Jul 2011

    Halsall responded: "We need to quietly recognise that we are no longer reacting to a pandemic, but living with one. [...]."

    2021 November 3, Stefanie Foster, “Network News: Companies can make a difference to mental wellbeing”, in RAIL, number 943, page 23
  3. euphemisticidiomatictransitiveTo have a disability or chronic illness.

Synonyms & antonyms

verbtolerate or accommodate oneself to

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Cite this entry
APA

live with. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/live%20with

MLA

“live with.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/live%20with. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “live with,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/live%20with.

Source: live with on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.