live-in

1 of 2

adjective

ˈliv-ˌin How to pronounce live-in (audio)
1
: living in one's place of employment
a live-in caregiver
2
: being or involving people in a romantic or sexual relationship who live together and are not married
a live-in partner
a live-in relationship
live-in noun
plural live-ins

live in

2 of 2

verb

lived in; living in; lives in

intransitive verb

: to live in one's place of employment : live in another's home

Examples of live-in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
My friend has been in a long-term, live-in relationship with a lovely man. — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2026 Beyreuther came to the United States from Germany as a live-in maid 16 years ago. — Swasti Singhai, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Verb
My mom loves a sneaker that looks polished but still feels lived in, and this mixed‑material pair hits that sweet spot. — Paris Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2026 If the business rules live in tribal knowledge, AI surfaces the gaps. — Sanjay Srivastava, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for live-in

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1934, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of live-in was in 1890

Rhymes for live-in

See All Rhymes for live-in

Browse Nearby Words

live hole
live-in
live in
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Live-in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/live-in. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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