life spans

noun

plural of life span
as in durations
the period during which something exists, lasts, or is in progress I saw no need to pay more for a better-built computer that would just grow obsolete before the end of its life span

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of life spans Why The Type Of Bulb Matters Different types of bulbs use different amounts of energy and have varying life spans. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2026 And 47% of Gen Zers say traditional retirement planning does not sufficiently account for longer life spans, according to TIAA. — Preston Fore, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026 Laboratory studies have shown that rapamycin could extend the life spans of yeast and mice—but, in a recent randomized human trial, older adults on the medication didn’t seem to experience any physical gains. — Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 Within that category, repair emerged as a particularly strong theme, reflecting a growing desire for extending product life spans over continually purchasing new items. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 11 June 2026 Her life spans a century of dedication to and passion for all things creative in a lifetime of benefit to and for all. — Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026 What are the life spans of data centers? — Claudia Levens, jsonline.com, 6 Mar. 2026 In many-minded terms, an octopus’s natural life spans so many lives that the one-minded might call it unnatural or even schizophrenic. — Mandy-Suzanne Wong, Longreads, 5 Feb. 2026 The concept of Mother Earth or Mother Nature as the center of the universe and source of all life spans Indigenous cultures around the globe. — Melinda Laituri, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for life spans
  1. durations
  2. times
  3. runs
  4. lives
  5. lifetimes
Noun
  • Various studies suggest that fenugreek may help lower blood sugar levels, but the doses and durations vary.
    — Merve Ceylan, HEALTH, 28 Oct. 2026
  • China has launched four spaceplane missions since 2020, with durations of up to nine months.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of durations
Noun
  • Spring and fall are the best times to schedule a tune-up to address problems and have your coils cleaned.
    — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Storms deposited 267 to 3,190 particles per square meter per day at the remote sites, and on average three times as much, 2,560 to 7,480, at the Mammoth site.
    — Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of times
Noun
  • This is punctured by a wailing refrain from Lyons, whose runs serve as a continual anchor to the jazz tradition throughout his time with Taylor.
    — Levi Dayan, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Center fielder Julio Rodríguez and first baseman Josh Naylor also had career-worst seasons, and the Mariners scored just 664 runs — third-fewest in the majors.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of runs
Noun
  • The two grew closer, with Wong softening behind bars, caring more about others’ personal lives and sending Lee cards on special occasions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026
  • As the stakes rise and the network runs deeper, Joe must forge unlikely alliances, cross sacred lines, and take his war beyond the walls of the church to save the lives no one else can.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of lives
Noun
  • Maybe by taking some money from the people who have enough money for thousands of lifetimes but will only be able to use it in one!
    — Alice Burton, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Even if the average person still supports much of the mainstream biomedical research community, there’s a level of skepticism and cynicism toward science that is perhaps unprecedented in our lifetimes.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of lifetimes

Browse Nearby Words

lifespan
life spans
lifestyle
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Cite this Entry

“Life spans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/life%20spans. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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