1
: a line (such as a rope) used for saving or preserving life: such as
a
: a line along the outer edge of the deck of a boat or ship
b
: a line used to keep contact with a person (such as a diver or astronaut) in a dangerous or potentially dangerous situation
2
: something regarded as indispensable for the maintaining or protection of life
Examples of lifeline in a Sentence
The river is the town's lifeline.
The new jobs were an economic lifeline for a city in need of help.
The radio was their lifeline to the outside world.
They threw a lifeline to the man overboard.
Recent Examples on the Web
On the campaign trail, Mamdani vowed to expand the voucher program, which is seen as a lifeline to help people out of homelessness, and criticized then-Mayor Adams for trying to halt it.
—
Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
Remote diagnostics are a lifeline for IT managers, but simply collecting data on system behavior over time can guide future purchasing decisions and help IT buyers and decision-makers avoid past equipment-acquisition mistakes.
—John Burek, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
Her emergency lifeline, with its daily auto-withdrawals, quickly became a trap.
—Alina Selyukh, NPR, 25 Mar. 2026
In 2020, the two opened The Store, a free-referral grocery founded with Belmont University that quickly became a lifeline during the tornado disaster and COVID-19 shutdown.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lifeline
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Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2026
Remote diagnostics are a lifeline for IT managers, but simply collecting data on system behavior over time can guide future purchasing decisions and help IT buyers and decision-makers avoid past equipment-acquisition mistakes.
—John Burek, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
Her emergency lifeline, with its daily auto-withdrawals, quickly became a trap.
—Alina Selyukh, NPR, 25 Mar. 2026
In 2020, the two opened The Store, a free-referral grocery founded with Belmont University that quickly became a lifeline during the tornado disaster and COVID-19 shutdown.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lifeline
Cite this Entry
“Lifeline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifeline. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lifeline
noun
life·line
ˈlī-ˌflīn 
1
: a line persons may hang on to for safety or rescue
2
: something providing help or support that is needed for success or survival
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