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

At the risk of sounding dramatic, the splurge-worthy blanket is nothing short of life-changing and luxurious. —Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 13 Mar. 2026

Though Mexico’s failure to advance past pool play was a disappointment, the tournament experience was a life-changing moment for Garcia. —Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026

Along roads across the nation — including in Missouri and Kansas — routine traffic stops like this have been turning into life-changing immigration cases, where people are detained for minor violations and jailed indefinitely before possibly being deported. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026

For some, a $4 million bonus would be life-changing. —Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 12 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for life-changing

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