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

Decisions that don't seem big in the moment can set off a chain of events that turn into life-changing moments. — David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

The combination of novel communications challenges and a potentially life-changing payout would seem to be an irresistible set-up for any number of crisis and communications professionals at the top of their game. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026

Tackling cancer, energy and disability, the following big ideas trace their roots to university labs, places that have afforded some of America’s brightest minds the space — and time — to pursue life-changing ideas. — Abraham Swee, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026

All of these people and the others described mystical, life-changing, extraordinary experiences. — Claire Hoffman, Rolling Stone, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for life-changing

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