plural lives
ˈlīvz 
1
a
: the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body
b
: a principle or force that is considered to underlie the distinctive quality of animate beings
c
: an organismic state characterized by capacity for metabolism (see metabolism sense 1), growth, reaction to stimuli, and reproduction
2
a
: the sequence of physical and mental experiences that make up the existence of an individual
children … are the joy of our lives—
Agnes S. Turnbull
Agnes S. Turnbull
b
: one or more aspects of the process of living
sex life of the frog
3
: biography sense 1
the life of George Washington
4
: spiritual existence transcending (see transcend sense 1c) physical death
his craving … for the release into the life to come—Rodney Gilbert
Rodney Gilbert5
a
: the period from birth to death
b
: a specific phase of earthly existence
adult life
c
: the period from an event until death
a judge appointed for life
d
: a sentence of imprisonment for the remainder of a convict's life
6
: a way or manner of living
the life of the colonists
7
: livelihood
The fishing village drew its life from the sea.
8
: a vital or living being
9
: an animating and shaping force or principle
the life of the constitution … has been not logic but experience—F. A. Ogg & Harold Zink
F. A. Ogg & Harold Zink11
: the form or pattern of something existing in reality
painted from life
12
: the period of duration, usefulness, or popularity of something
the expected life of the batteries
13
: the period of existence (as of a subatomic particle) compare half-life
14
: a property (such as resilience (see resilience sense 1) or elasticity) of an inanimate (see inanimate sense 1) substance or object resembling the animate quality of a living being
15
: living beings (as of a particular kind or environment)
forest life
16
a
: human activities
b
: animate activity and movement
stirrings of life
c
: the activities of a given sphere, area, or time
the political life of the country
17
: one providing interest and vigor
life of the party
18
: an opportunity for continued viability
gave the patient a new life
19
20
: something resembling animate life
a grant saved the project's life
see also get one's life back together, get one's life together, piece one's life back together, put one's life back together
1
: of or relating to animate being
2
: lifelong
a life member
3
: using a living model
a life class
4
: of, relating to, or provided by life insurance
a life policy
Synonyms
Examples of life in a Sentence
Noun
He believes that God gives life to all creatures.
She was happy and healthy for most of her life.
The people in her family tend to have long lives.
I've known her all my life.
He is nearing the end of his life.
People can expect to change jobs several times in their life.
They've been waiting their whole life for an opportunity like this.
What do you really want out of life?
All this paperwork has made life much more difficult.
The details of everyday life can be fascinating.
Adjective
the life force in all things
He was given a life sentence in prison.
See More
Recent Examples on the WebMatt Jancer, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2023
The war has claimed the lives of more than 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians killed by Hamas in the initial attack.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 27 Nov. 2023
Last Updated: Live Coverage Feed 2 hours ago Released Hostage, 84, in Critical Condition in Israel Hospital
An 84-year-old woman who was released by Hamas on Sunday is in critical condition and there is risk to her life, the director of the Soroka Medical Center in southern Israel said.
—Anat Peled, WSJ, 27 Nov. 2023
Now, her husband, sister, nephews, and mom—who all share a Florida home—take turns cooking, but her mom’s meatloaf retains its integral spot in the rotation, serving as a flavorful reminder of life’s happy moments.
—Michelle Konstantinovsky, SELF, 27 Nov. 2023
At stake is not merely which country will wield more geopolitical influence in the future; infrastructure investment will also shape the day-to-day life for billions of people who live in cities.
—Simon Curtis and Ian Klaus, Foreign Affairs, 27 Nov. 2023
Writers Alex Beggs and Wilder Davies have both tested it out and both found the system to be highly effective at extending the life of fresh produce, particularly berries and herbs.
—Tiffany Hopkins, Bon Appétit, 27 Nov. 2023
If certain Socialist edicts were absurd—Coke cans were banned, as icons of Western consumerism, and were therefore coveted as status symbols—her family’s life generally felt reassuring and equitable.
—Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2023
Advice columnist Carolyn Hax takes your comments and questions most Fridays about life, family, relationships and more.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023
Andrea Vacchiano, Fox News, 3 Apr. 2023
Three were pronounced dead inside the bar while three were transported to the hospital – one in critical condition and two with non-life threatening injuries.
—Jana Hayes, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2023
Hernandez was transported to a local hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 31 Mar. 2023
In November, an 18-year-old man was stabbed at the Downtown Crossing T stop and suffered non-life threatening injuries.
—Travis Andersen, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Mar. 2023
The three teenagers were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, OSCO said.
—Elainie Barraza, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2023
During a press conference, Detroit Police Chief James White said the MSP troopers sustained non-life threatening injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital.
—Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2023
The three crew members were in the locomotive, which caught fire after the derailment, and are being treated for non-life threatening injuries, CSX said.
—Kristina Sgueglia, CNN, 8 Mar. 2023
Three of the six people aboard the train were later treated for non-life threatening injuries, according to CSX.
—Nicholas Reimann, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2023
See More
Noun
The fitness tracking is flaky and the black version scuffs easily, but the four-day battery life is good.
—Matt Jancer, WIRED, 27 Nov. 2023
The war has claimed the lives of more than 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians killed by Hamas in the initial attack.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 27 Nov. 2023
Last Updated: Live Coverage Feed 2 hours ago Released Hostage, 84, in Critical Condition in Israel Hospital
An 84-year-old woman who was released by Hamas on Sunday is in critical condition and there is risk to her life, the director of the Soroka Medical Center in southern Israel said.
—Anat Peled, WSJ, 27 Nov. 2023
Now, her husband, sister, nephews, and mom—who all share a Florida home—take turns cooking, but her mom’s meatloaf retains its integral spot in the rotation, serving as a flavorful reminder of life’s happy moments.
—Michelle Konstantinovsky, SELF, 27 Nov. 2023
At stake is not merely which country will wield more geopolitical influence in the future; infrastructure investment will also shape the day-to-day life for billions of people who live in cities.
—Simon Curtis and Ian Klaus, Foreign Affairs, 27 Nov. 2023
Writers Alex Beggs and Wilder Davies have both tested it out and both found the system to be highly effective at extending the life of fresh produce, particularly berries and herbs.
—Tiffany Hopkins, Bon Appétit, 27 Nov. 2023
If certain Socialist edicts were absurd—Coke cans were banned, as icons of Western consumerism, and were therefore coveted as status symbols—her family’s life generally felt reassuring and equitable.
—Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2023
Advice columnist Carolyn Hax takes your comments and questions most Fridays about life, family, relationships and more.
—Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023
Adjective
Among the injured people, one was critically hurt and two had non-life threatening injuries.
—Andrea Vacchiano, Fox News, 3 Apr. 2023
Three were pronounced dead inside the bar while three were transported to the hospital – one in critical condition and two with non-life threatening injuries.
—Jana Hayes, USA TODAY, 2 Apr. 2023
Hernandez was transported to a local hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 31 Mar. 2023
In November, an 18-year-old man was stabbed at the Downtown Crossing T stop and suffered non-life threatening injuries.
—Travis Andersen, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Mar. 2023
The three teenagers were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, OSCO said.
—Elainie Barraza, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2023
During a press conference, Detroit Police Chief James White said the MSP troopers sustained non-life threatening injuries and were transported to a nearby hospital.
—Nour Rahal, Detroit Free Press, 10 Mar. 2023
The three crew members were in the locomotive, which caught fire after the derailment, and are being treated for non-life threatening injuries, CSX said.
—Kristina Sgueglia, CNN, 8 Mar. 2023
Three of the six people aboard the train were later treated for non-life threatening injuries, according to CSX.
—Nicholas Reimann, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'life.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Adjective
Middle English lif, from Old English līf; akin to Old English libban to live — more at live
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of life was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing life
Dictionary Entries Near life
Cite this Entry
“Life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
life
1 of 2 noun
plural lives
ˈlīvz
1
a
: the quality that separates plants and animals from such things as water or rock : the quality that plants and animals lose when they die
b
: a state of a living thing marked especially by capacity for metabolism, growth, reaction to stimuli, and reproduction
2
a
: all the experiences that make up the existence of a person
never heard of such a thing in all my life
b
3
a
: the period during which a person, animal, or plant lives
b
: a specific part of living
adult life
c
: the period from an event until death
remained friends for life
4
: a way or manner of living
the life of the ant
5
: a living being
many lives were saved
6
: energy or spirit in action or expression
eyes full of life
still some life left in the coals
7
: the form or pattern of something that exists in actual fact
painted from life
looks larger than life
8
: the period of usefulness, popularity, or existence of something
battery life
the life of an insurance policy
9
: living beings (as of a kind or place)
forest life
10
: living activity and movement
stirrings of life
streets humming with life
11
: one providing interest and vigor
the life of the party
life
2 of 2 adjective1
: of or relating to living existence
the life force
2
: lifelong
a life member
Medical Definition
life
noun
plural lives
ˈlīvz
1
a
: the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional plant or animal from a dead body
b
: a state of living characterized by capacity for metabolism, growth, reaction to stimuli, and reproduction
2
a
: the sequence of physical and mental experiences that make up the existence of an individual
b
: a specific part or aspect of the process of living
sex life
adult life
More from Merriam-Webster on life
Nglish: Translation of life for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of life for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about life
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
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