lifelong

adjective

life·​long ˈlīf-ˌlȯŋ 

1

: lasting or continuing through life

a lifelong friendship

2

: long-standing

Examples of lifelong in a Sentence

He had a lifelong love of nature.

Recent Examples on the Web

Austin Smotherman earned his first win on the PGA Tour in early October at the Bank of Utah Championship, checking the box of fulfilling a lifelong dream. — Mark Harris Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026

He’s been impressed with how his lifelong friend has navigated everything swirling around him. — Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026

The lifelong Republican and self-described small-town attorney has spent countless hours trying to figure out what's going on with 1,000 acres of farmland and trees that property records show were sold to a data center developer in 2024 and 2025. — Andrea Hsu, NPR, 28 Oct. 2026

The elderly mom called Acton a lifelong liar in the ad but didn’t mention the fact that state authorities removed Acton, then 12, and her brother from her custody after Acton’s stepfather was charged with raping her. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 28 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for lifelong

• evensong
• livelong
• overlong
• vietcong
• agung
• along
• belong
• birdsong
• furlong
• headlong
• headstrong
• plainsong

Kids Definition

lifelong

adjective

life·​long ˈlī-ˌflȯŋ 

: continuing or lasting through life

a lifelong love for trees

a lifelong friendship