lifelike

adjective

life·​like ˈlīf-ˌlīk 

: accurately representing or imitating real life

a lifelike portrait

lifelikeness noun

Synonyms

• realistic
• living
• naturalistic
• natural
• vivid
• three-dimensional

Examples of lifelike in a Sentence

The graphics in the video game are more lifelike than we imagined they would be.

the eyes of the lifelike portrait seem to follow visitors around the room

Recent Examples on the Web

Now, researchers at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities have developed a new 3D printing technique that creates lifelike human tissue structures. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025

The advancement, detailed this week in Science Advances, is just the latest in a string of studies highlighting how creepily lifelike synthetic skins have become. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2025

Both OSes now support ray tracing for more lifelike lighting in games. —PC Magazine, 22 Sep. 2025

Cai, who first unveiled his personal artificial intelligence model cAI during a 2024 solo exhibition in Macau, also brought a lifelike robot version of cAI to observe the fireworks. —Denni Hu, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lifelike

• businesslike
• ladylike
• motorbike
• workmanlike
• alike
• belike
• birdlike
• catlike
• childlike
• christlike
• deathlike
• dislike

Kids Definition

lifelike

adjective

life·​like ˈlī-ˌflīk 

: accurately representing or imitating an actual living thing

a lifelike statue

lifelikeness noun