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

Even before his life-changing injury, Schultz liked to problem-solve, too. —Andrew Greif, NBC news, 20 Feb. 2026

That love for organic travel experiences started early, with a life-changing solo trip at age 18. —Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2026

Winning a medal at the Olympics is a life-changing experience for every athlete. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026

Brands that are transparent with how their food is made tend to feel more honest rather than the ones with buzzwords and promise of life-changing results. —Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for life-changing

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