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
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Recent Examples of life spans
But after these funds dried up, schools have struggled to replace broken or outdated devices, which last on average less than a decade despite Google’s efforts to extend device life spans.
—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 10 Apr. 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
Move your body more Adding just a few minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day can help contribute to longer life spans, particularly for people with sedentary lifestyles.
—Hunter Boyce, AJC.com, 21 Jan. 2026
From Kuwait to a small Italian university town, and then to New York and Arizona, his life spans love and loss, grief and success.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 10 Apr. 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
Move your body more Adding just a few minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day can help contribute to longer life spans, particularly for people with sedentary lifestyles.
—Hunter Boyce, AJC.com, 21 Jan. 2026
From Kuwait to a small Italian university town, and then to New York and Arizona, his life spans love and loss, grief and success.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for life spans
Noun
-
Here, the eclipse occurs high in the sky, with durations exceeding 4 minutes near the Strait of Gibraltar.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
10 May 2026
-
Begin with shorter durations and gradually increase your time in the water.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
The only sign of life was an electronic arrivals screen, which showed the arrival times of flights from Fort Lauderdale, Chicago, Miami, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Myrtle Beach, and Detroit.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
Ordaz has found the net eight times in 67 matches.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Senior outfielder Giovanni Longo went 4-for-4 with two runs, two doubles and six RBIs for Sandburg (15-7).—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
In 155 plate appearances, Pete Alonso has hit six long balls, tallied 17 RBIs and scored 25 runs (18th in MLB).—
Data Skrive,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Research suggests that 25 percent of all Connecticut children (34 percent of Hispanic children and 42 percent of Black children) will, at some point in their lives, live in a household with an open DCF case.—
James R Mason,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
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Set in a Himalayan village in Sikkim, the film traces the lives of women across three generations of a single family – their emotional inheritances, unspoken histories and daily negotiations.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
During their lifetimes, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri were reportedly regular collaborators with a healthy mutual respect for each other’s immeasurable musical talents.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
8 May 2026
-
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, with 1 in 5 Americans developing it in their lifetimes, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Life spans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/life%20spans. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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