Meaning & use
better living
Last updated
Meanings
phraseuncountable
A higher standard of comfort, health, and enjoyment in everyday life.
Grammar: Used without 'a' or a plural: better living means improved daily life in general.
Patterns
- better living standards
- a better living environment
- work toward better living
The new park has brought better living to the whole neighborhood.
Their campaign promises cleaner air and better living for city families.
Better living often starts with small changes at home.
phrasesingular
Enough money earned to support yourself comfortably.
Grammar: Usually appears as 'a better living' after verbs like earn, make, or get.
Patterns
- earn a better living
- make a better living
- get a better living
After the training course, she could earn a better living.
He moved abroad hoping to make a better living for his family.
Common combinations
- better living standards
- Better living standards usually follow steady economic growth.
- a better living environment
- The council wants a better living environment for residents.
- earn a better living
- With a certificate, you can earn a better living.
- better living conditions
- Aid workers improved better living conditions in the camp.
- a better living wage
- The union is demanding a better living wage for staff.
Synonyms and how they differ
- a higher standard of living
- More formal and economic; it refers to measured income and possessions rather than daily comfort.
- well-being
- Focuses on health and happiness, not on housing, money, or surroundings.
- quality of life
- A neutral, slightly formal term used in reports; 'better living' is more like a slogan.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: better living or a living?
better living vs a living
'A living' alone means the money you earn (what do you do for a living?); 'better living' describes an improved way of life.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'better living' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Better living' is an uncountable phrase meaning an improved way of life, so it fits without 'a' or a plural. Option 3 wrongly adds 'a' and a plural; options 2 and 3 misuse it as a verb phrase.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “better living”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.