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
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
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
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
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
-
With habitats in place, along with solar and nuclear power stations, rotating astronaut crews could live and work on the moon for long durations much like space station fliers have done in Earth orbit for the past quarter century.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
9 June 2026
-
Six were suspended for various durations.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Batting leadoff, Benge scored three times and became the fourth Mets rookie with five hits and a homer in one game.—
CBS New York Team,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
-
Tensions have remained high since the ceasefire, and the two sides have launched attacks on each other multiple times in recent weeks.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Peter Lambert gave up two runs and five hits with six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings for Houston.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
-
Riley Greene homered and drove in two runs as the Tigers won for the sixth time in seven games.—
Twin Cities,
Twin Cities,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
The backstory The building that houses the hotel has lived many lives since its construction in 1852.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 June 2026
-
McGinniss watches and lives and eats with the team, painting enchanting portraits of the team hierarchy at work over many-course meals.—
Leander Schaerlaeckens
June 8,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Both of those probes are also operating well beyond their original mission lifetimes.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
3 June 2026
-
Holdovers in Uni markets include UK and Ireland with $2M and a $9M running cume, surpassing lifetimes of Hereditary and Speak No Evil, and having previously overtaken The Black Phone and The Substance.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Life spans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/life%20spans. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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