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

The life-changing experience of those tomatoes on- and offscreen is just one way Farnaby’s script shares a spirit with Blyton’s 1939 children’s classic. — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026

The man’s injuries weren’t life-changing or life-threatening, police said. — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026

The integration of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and bioengineering is already enabling life-changing achievements, from combating disease to supercharging agricultural productivity to solving energy challenges. — Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

The Fort Worth community is rallying behind a beloved owner of Belenty’s Love restaurant, raising money for him after a life-changing accident. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for life-changing

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