life

1 of 2

noun

plural lives ˈlīvz How to pronounce life (audio)
1
a
: the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body
b
: a principle or force that is considered to underlie the distinctive quality of animate beings
c
: an organismic state characterized by capacity for metabolism (see metabolism sense 1), growth, reaction to stimuli, and reproduction
2
a
: the sequence of physical and mental experiences that make up the existence of an individual
children … are the joy of our livesAgnes S. Turnbull
b
: one or more aspects of the process of living
sex life of the frog
3
: biography sense 1
the life of George Washington
4
: spiritual existence transcending (see transcend sense 1c) physical death
his craving … for the release into the life to comeRodney Gilbert
5
a
: the period from birth to death
b
: a specific phase of earthly existence
adult life
c
: the period from an event until death
a judge appointed for life
d
: a sentence of imprisonment for the remainder of a convict's life
6
: a way or manner of living
the life of the colonists
7
: livelihood
The fishing village drew its life from the sea.
8
: a vital or living being
specifically : person
many lives were lost in the disaster
9
: an animating and shaping force or principle
the life of the constitution … has been not logic but experienceF. A. Ogg & Harold Zink
10
: spirit, animation
saw no life in her dancing
11
: the form or pattern of something existing in reality
painted from life
12
: the period of duration, usefulness, or popularity of something
the expected life of the batteries
13
: the period of existence (as of a subatomic particle) compare half-life
14
: a property (such as resilience (see resilience sense 1) or elasticity) of an inanimate (see inanimate sense 1) substance or object resembling the animate quality of a living being
15
: living beings (as of a particular kind or environment)
forest life
16
a
: human activities
b
: animate activity and movement
stirrings of life
c
: the activities of a given sphere, area, or time
the political life of the country
17
: one providing interest and vigor
life of the party
18
: an opportunity for continued viability
gave the patient a new life
19
capitalized Christian Science : god sense 1b
20
: something resembling animate life
a grant saved the project's life

see also get one's life back together, get one's life together, piece one's life back together, put one's life back together

life

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of or relating to animate being
2
: lifelong
a life member
3
: using a living model
a life class
4
: of, relating to, or provided by life insurance
a life policy

Examples of life in a Sentence

Noun He believes that God gives life to all creatures. She was happy and healthy for most of her life. The people in her family tend to have long lives. I've known her all my life. He is nearing the end of his life. People can expect to change jobs several times in their life. They've been waiting their whole life for an opportunity like this. What do you really want out of life? All this paperwork has made life much more difficult. The details of everyday life can be fascinating. Adjective the life force in all things He was given a life sentence in prison.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Without knowing it, Truman has lived his whole life surrounded not by real people but by actors playing roles—wife, friend, milkman. Patrick House, The New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2024 Today’s great reads How one man in South Korea rearranged his life to worship Dodger superstar Shohei Ohtani. Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for life 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'life.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective

Middle English lif, from Old English līf; akin to Old English libban to live — more at live

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of life was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near life

Cite this Entry

“Life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

life

1 of 2 noun
plural lives ˈlīvz How to pronounce life (audio)
1
a
: the quality that separates plants and animals from such things as water or rock : the quality that plants and animals lose when they die
b
: a state of a living thing marked especially by capacity for metabolism, growth, reaction to stimuli, and reproduction
2
a
: all the experiences that make up the existence of a person
never heard of such a thing in all my life
b
3
a
: the period during which a person, animal, or plant lives
b
: a specific part of living
adult life
c
: the period from an event until death
remained friends for life
4
: a way or manner of living
the life of the ant
5
: a living being
many lives were saved
6
: energy or spirit in action or expression
eyes full of life
still some life left in the coals
7
: the form or pattern of something that exists in actual fact
painted from life
looks larger than life
8
: the period of usefulness, popularity, or existence of something
battery life
the life of an insurance policy
9
: living beings (as of a kind or place)
forest life
10
: living activity and movement
stirrings of life
streets humming with life
11
: one providing interest and vigor
the life of the party

life

2 of 2 adjective
1
: of or relating to living existence
the life force
2
: lifelong
a life member

Medical Definition

life

noun
plural lives ˈlīvz How to pronounce life (audio)
1
a
: the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional plant or animal from a dead body
b
: a state of living characterized by capacity for metabolism, growth, reaction to stimuli, and reproduction
2
a
: the sequence of physical and mental experiences that make up the existence of an individual
b
: a specific part or aspect of the process of living
sex life
adult life
lifeless adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on life

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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