lifetime

noun life·time \ ˈlīf-ˌtīm \

|Updated on: 6 Jul 2018

Definition of lifetime

1 a : the duration of the existence of a living being (such as a person or an animal) or a thing (such as a star or a subatomic particle)

b : life 12

2 : an amount accumulated or experienced in a lifetime

a lifetime of regrets

See lifetime defined for English-language learners

See lifetime defined for kids

Examples of lifetime in a Sentence

a lifetime spent traveling the world
It would have taken me a lifetime to read all those books.
Childhood seems a lifetime ago now!
a chemical with a lifetime of only a few minutes
the lifetime of a planet

Recent Examples of lifetime from the Web

Finally, look for products with a lifetime warranty.

— richard a. marini, San Antonio Express-News, "S.A.’s money’s no object, high-end outdoor kitchens," 2 July 2018
An avid motorcyclist, and lifetime HOG member, Jack traveled many N.E. miles with friends and family.

— courant.com, "John Robert McGraw," 1 July 2018
Once confirmed for the lifetime posts, some justices have defied expectations.

— peter nicholas, WSJ, "Trump Says Abortion Rights Could Be Decided by States," 1 July 2018
Andy was assured that such a flood was a one-in-a-lifetime event.

— nancy lord, Anchorage Daily News, "In ‘Kings of the Yukon,’ paddling 2,000 miles to witness what’s left behind when salmon runs falter," 30 June 2018
Just a kid in a small town playing a game that means something in that moment, and the moment might stay a lifetime with him in that town one way or the other.

— bob ford, Philly.com, "Annapolis newspaper shooting hits home for this writer, because all of us in journalism have been there | Bob Ford," 29 June 2018
This week in the cosmos brings subtle, sensitive shifts that will resonant for lifetimes to come.

— bess matassa, Teen Vogue, "Weekly Horoscopes July 2-8," 29 June 2018
With a cleaner voyage on Closing Day under jockey Julien Leparoux, the son of Midnight Lute should be able to get to the wire first and earn his third lifetime win.

— scott shapiro, The Courier-Journal, "Twinspires.com's free expert pick for Saturday at Churchill Downs," 29 June 2018
Suzuki says Kingelez did not have a commercial dealer during his lifetime, and sales records show that his work trades infrequently and for relatively modest amounts.

— eben shapiro, Time, "At MoMA, a Genius Finally Gets His Due," 28 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lifetime.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of lifetime

13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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lifetime Synonyms

Synonyms

continuance, date, duration, life, life span, run, standing, time;

Related Words

spell, stretch;

span, tenure, term;

hitch, tour, turn;

half-life;

age, longevity;

lifetime

adjective

Definition of lifetime

1 : lifelong

2 : of long duration or continuance

lifetime legislation

3 : measured or achieved over the span of a career

a baseball player's lifetime batting average

First Known Use of lifetime

1834

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

LIFETIME Defined for English Language Learners

lifetime

noun

Definition of lifetime for English Language Learners

: the time during which a person is alive
: a very long time
: the time during which something lasts or is useful

LIFETIME Defined for Kids

lifetime

noun life·time \ ˈlīf-ˌtīm \

Definition of lifetime for Students

: life 2

Learn More about lifetime

See words that rhyme with lifetime Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for lifetime Spanish Central: Translation of lifetime Nglish: Translation of lifetime for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of lifetime for Arabic speakers

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lifetime

Definition of lifetime

Examples of lifetime in a Sentence

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First Known Use of lifetime

lifetime Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

lifetime

Definition of lifetime

First Known Use of lifetime

Phrases Related to LIFETIME

Related Phrases

LIFETIME Defined for English Language Learners

lifetime

Definition of lifetime for English Language Learners

LIFETIME Defined for Kids

lifetime

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