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

Not serial entrepreneurs in their 60s, nor families navigating generational succession, but highly technical employees in their 30s who have suddenly acquired life-changing wealth and have little prior experience of wealth planning. — Joe Crome, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Outbreaks this year in Louisiana and last year in Florida sickened multiple children, including at least one who developed the same life-changing kidney condition as Brooklyn. — CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

Yet these life-changing medications are only available to some of my patients. — Disha Narang, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026

Williams was watching the stream on a television as his wife and son were getting ready for bed when a life-changing fortune became theirs. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for life-changing

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