1 A2 neutral
To share your home with another person.
"She's been living with her sister since the divorce."
inseparable
live with
B1 neutral inseparable transitive
To share your home with someone, or to accept and continue to endure a difficult situation.
In plain English
To share your home with someone, or to accept something bad that won't go away.
What does "live with" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic neutral
To accept and continue life despite an ongoing difficult, painful, or unchangeable situation.
"Millions of people live with chronic pain every day."
inseparable
3 B1 idiomatic informal
To accept a decision or outcome, even if it is not ideal.
"It's not a perfect solution, but I can live with it."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To share a living space with someone — also extended metaphorically to living alongside a problem or condition.
Actually means
To share your home with someone, or to accept something bad that won't go away.
Usage tip
The 'accept a difficult situation' sense often carries a tone of resignation. Common in medical contexts ('living with diabetes'). Distinct from 'live with oneself', which has a moral dimension.
Words that pair with "live with"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
pain consequences disability decision uncertainty partner
How to conjugate "live with"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
live with
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lives with
he/she/it
Past simple
lived with
yesterday
Past participle
lived with
have + pp
-ing form
living with
continuous
Hear "live with" in the wild
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Other ways to say "live with"
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