life spans

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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for life spans
Noun
  • This approach isn’t all that different from last year for the fourth-year quarterback; Young played for varying durations in two of the Panthers’ three preseason contests in 2025.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Space-grade storage must withstand radiation, operate within strict power limitations and maintain data integrity over long mission durations.
    Ben Topor, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Tool call volume is not stable, and Arcade says its own call volume grew 25 times in six months.
    Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The Public Defender's Office said Govindbhai, without double-checking the plate numbers, walked to the driver's side door and struck the window with his baton four times, smashing the glass.
    Jose Fabian, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The Angels broke open the game with four runs and six hits off Texas left-hander Jordan Montgomery in the fifth.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The offense has been especially dangerous in August — 36 of their 70 runs this month have come with two outs.
    Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Digital media and the people who star in it have been cultural mainstays for teens’ entire lives, so creating social media, video or podcast content seems a natural, albeit nontraditional, career path.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • These men must be honored for producing innovative products that improve millions of people’s lives.
    Harold Pollack, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Novel health threats will inevitably return in our lifetimes.
    Ronald Nahass, STAT, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Kohberger pleaded guilty to murder in July 2025 in a deal with prosecutors that spared him the death penalty, and was ultimately sentenced to four lifetimes in prison without the possibility of parole.
    Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Life spans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/life%20spans. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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