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 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 Steeped in the civil rights movement Norton was born and raised in Washington, and her life spans the arc of the district’s trials and triumphs. — Matt Brown, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for life spans
  1. durations
  2. times
  3. runs
  4. lives
  5. lifetimes
Noun
  • Collins and his colleagues also tested different durations of contact between healthy and bleached corals.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • More Research Is Needed Though the findings are encouraging, the researchers say more studies are needed to determine which activities, intensities, and durations offer the greatest benefits during this life stage.
    — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of durations
Noun
  • But a few times in recent years, Hollins, a veterinarian, tricked Jonathan and slid a cotton swab into the giant tortoise's mouth to get a saliva sample.
    — KYLE MELNICK THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Reduce Sugar Load From Pomegranate Juice At 32 grams per serving, pomegranate juice contains nearly four times as much sugar as tomato juice.
    — MD Published, Verywell Health, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of times
Noun
  • David Hamilton, who is objectively an awful baseball player, reached base four times and scored two runs.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The key moment that actually didn’t score any runs was Jake Bauers’ 12-pitch walk in the third inning.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of runs
Noun
  • No discussion of nuclear deterrence should ever lose sight of the human lives behind those words.
    — Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • There is so much going on in all of our lives but far too much beauty in this world to ignore.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of lives
Noun
  • The work is intended to help transfer specialized nuclear-submarine design knowledge, improve technical coordination and strengthen the industrial capabilities required to build and sustain advanced submarines over their operational lifetimes.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
  • There is more organizing happening on the ground than at any point in our lifetimes.
    — Liz Shuler, Time, 15 Oct. 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 18 Oct. 2026.

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