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
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Recent Examples of life spans
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
This embrace of coal is a short-term fix—extending the life spans of older coal-burning plants rather than spawning a wave of new ones.
—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
19 May 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
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
This embrace of coal is a short-term fix—extending the life spans of older coal-burning plants rather than spawning a wave of new ones.
—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
19 May 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
Noun
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The modular design also supports flexible storage durations of 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours.
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These personalized vacations allow travelers to choose their companions, customize itineraries, and select flexible dates and durations, avoiding potential personality clashes.
Noun
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Temperatures inside of cars can reach 125 degrees in minutes, even with windows cracked, and children overheat as much as five times faster than adults, the fact sheet said.
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Several communities in the Pittsburgh area have adjusted their trash pickup times as the region is bracing for a heat wave with temperatures and heat indexes expected to be near 100 degrees this week.
Noun
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The Dodgers lost a game Wednesday by six runs, 7-1 to the Athletics.
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Instead of making frantic runs for burger buns, charcoal and ice-cold drinks, Walmart+ members can have all their summer cookout essentials dropped right at their door, often the same day, with no delivery fee on eligible orders.
Noun
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Death caused by intentional self-harm claimed 48,824 lives in 2024.
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Wednesday marked one year since an explosion at a Northern California fireworks facility killed seven workers and changed the lives of their families forever.
Noun
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In a particularly eerie feat of conformity, every man in the portrait gallery wears a near-identical blue coat, even though portraits from their lifetimes feature them dressed in an assortment of brown, black, gray and other-colored garments.
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For generations of Americans, 2026 is the first major national anniversary in their lifetimes.
Cite this Entry
“Life spans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/life%20spans. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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