life-changing

adjective

life-chang·​ing ˈlīf-ˌchān-jiŋ 

: having or capable of having a significant impact on someone's life

a life-changing career opportunity

a life-changing injury

… in 1986 he took a year off to travel. The experience was life-changing and led to his 1991 decision to pursue writing full-time.

—Carolyn Hart

(humorous) Made with fresh carrots, pineapple, a blend of warm spices and a homemade brown butter cream cheese frosting, this carrot cake recipe is life-changing …

—Jocelyn Delk Adams

Examples of life-changing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling Filming the thriller The Place Beyond the Pines was a life-changing experience for A-list actors Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 16 Aug. 2026

Who will be crowned this year’s winner and take home a life-changing cash prize? — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2026

Since then, the jackpot has rolled over drawing after drawing, building into a life-changing windfall. — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026

Shah becomes a viral sensation, but the show itself takes a satirical look at an actor who blows a life-changing audition while exploring themes of family, community, mental health, and Shah’s desire to succeed. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for life-changing

• interchanging
• rearranging
• arranging
• exchanging
• unchanging
• changing
• ranging