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life

1 of 2

noun

ˈlīf

plural livesˈlīvz How to pronounce life (audio)

Synonyms oflife next

:the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body

:a principle or force that is considered to underlie the distinctive quality of animate beings

:an organismic state characterized by capacity for metabolism (seemetabolismsense 1), growth, reaction to stimuli, and reproduction

:the sequence of physical and mental experiences that make up the existence of an individual

children … are the joy of ourlives—

Agnes S. Turnbull

:one or more aspects of the process of living

sexlife of the frog

:biographysense 1

thelife of George Washington

:spiritual existence transcending (seetranscendsense 1c) physical death

his craving … for the release into thelife to come—

Rodney Gilbert

:the period from birth to death

:a specific phase of earthly existence

adultlife

:the period from an event until death

a judge appointed forlife

:a sentence of imprisonment for the remainder of a convict's life

:a way or manner of living

thelife of the colonists

:livelihood

The fishing village drew itslife from the sea.

:a vital or living being

specifically:person

manylives were lost in the disaster

:an animating and shaping force or principle

thelife of the constitution … has been not logic but experience—

F. A. Ogg and Harold Zink

:spirit,animation

saw nolife in her dancing

:the form or pattern of something existing in reality

painted fromlife

:the period of duration, usefulness, or popularity of something

the expectedlife of the batteries

:the period of existence (as of a subatomic particle) comparehalf-life

:a property (such as resilience (seeresiliencesense 1) or elasticity) of an inanimate (seeinanimatesense 1) substance or object resembling the animate quality of a living being

:living beings (as of a particular kind or environment)

forestlife

:human activities

:animate activity and movement

stirrings oflife

:the activities of a given sphere, area, or time

the politicallife of the country

:one providing interest and vigor

life of the party

:an opportunity for continued viability

gave the patient a newlife

capitalizedChristian Science:godsense 1b

:something resembling animate life

a grant saved the project'slife

life

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adjective

:of or relating to animate being

:lifelong

alife member

:using a living model

alife class

:of, relating to, or provided by life insurance

alife policy

Synonyms

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples oflife in a Sentence

Noun He believes that God giveslife to all creatures. She was happy and healthy for most of herlife. The people in her family tend to have longlives. I've known her all mylife. He is nearing the end of hislife. People can expect to change jobs several times in theirlife. They've been waiting their wholelife for an opportunity like this. What do you really want out oflife? All this paperwork has madelife much more difficult. The details of everydaylife can be fascinating.Adjective thelife force in all things He was given alife sentence in prison.

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.

Noun

Founded by Frank Fertitta IV and Landon Gyulay, the Easy Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) grant-making nonprofit committed to helping Veterans transition to civilianlifeby addressing critical needs including mental health care, job training, placement, and family support services.—

Jem Aswad,Variety, 5 May 2025That fight for victim's rights has shaped all theirlives.—

Erin Moriarty, Liza Finley,CBS News, 4 May 2025

Adjective

As thousands marched in Washington, D.C., for the protection of unbornlifelast Friday, the Trump administration delivered two significant wins for the pro-life cause internationally.—

Elyssa Koren,National Review, 30 Jan. 2025Their concerns are legitimate and consistent with respect for humanlifefrom conception, but the pro-life movement has nevertheless always been divided over IVF, and even many of those most skeptical of IVF do not think this is the proper moment to open a new legal or political front against it.—

The Editors,National Review, 23 Feb. 2024See All Example Sentences forlife