Definition of life
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2
3
as in duration
the period during which something exists, lasts, or is in progress the Egyptian civilization had an extremely long life

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in lifestyle
the way people live at a particular time and place frontier life must have been rugged, exciting, challenging, and more than a little dangerous

Synonyms & Similar Words

5
as in biography
a history of a person's life a renowned historian who has written lives of several early presidents

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Dalio’s OceanX focuses on exploring uncharted undersea regions and marine life, work supported in part by Triton Submarines, the private-submersible company he co-owns with filmmaker James Cameron. Brett Berk, Robb Report, 22 Aug. 2026 Clancy faces three counts of first-degree murder and, if convicted, the prospect of life in prison without parole. Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026 Johansson has said her nightly magnesium makes a noticeable change in her every day life. Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 2026 The range of punishment in the case was five to 99 years, or life, in prison. Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for life
Recent Examples of Synonyms for life
Noun
  • Collaboration improves when everyone knows where to place their energy.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
  • But the reflation boost appears to be petering out as much of the price recovery has been driven by surging global energy costs, while domestic demand lags.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • One person died in Jelgava, central Latvia, when part of a building collapsed on Saturday, and others were injured across the country.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The person requested anonymity due to the sensitivity in speaking with foreign media.
    CNN Staff, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Similarly, Olmsted of Morningstar noted that the duration investors would find in the core bond space – which also tends to be intermediate term – also works as a diversifier.
    Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Chang believes that the tri-layer approach could pave the way for longer-range EVs and safer batteries, and support flexible electronics, wearable devices, and long-duration grid storage.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Paris learned about the affiliate process from Jaz Smith, a fashion and lifestyle creator, who sees it as a way for creators to get paid for product research.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Determining whether changes in the blood-brain barrier, inflammation, genetics, lifestyle or other factors initiate this process will be an important next step.
    Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • In 1996, Julie Cox took over the role in Princess in Love, a CBS film based on the biography by Anna Pasternak with the same name.
    Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 23 Aug. 2026
  • This admiring biography of Harry Belafonte captures the epic sweep of the long life of the entertainer and activist, who died in 2023.
    Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Cutting back is done in mid-summer when foliage looks ragged and blooming slows to increase plant vigor, control height, and encourage a second flush of blooms.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Kittle, seven weeks since tearing his right Achilles in a wild-card playoff win at Philadelphia, was seen conditioning with vigor and impressive agility on a side field earlier this week.
    Cam Inman, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • In both women and men with class III obesity, defined as a BMI of 40 or higher, there was no statistically significant difference in mortality risk.
    Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Still, the archetypal influencer in our cultural imagination is not a man reviewing watches on YouTube or hosting a podcast from his studio in Austin.
    Laura Jung, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • On the sidewalk in front of her family apartment building in the Leopoldstadt neighborhood, the families of her adult grandchildren have placed a Stone of Remembrance, a brass plaque providing her lifespan and site of death.
    David Pollak, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • At the same time, incoming lithium causes graphite particles to swell, pushing against surrounding materials and generating internal mechanical stress that shortens battery lifespan.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 24 Aug. 2026

Cite this Entry

“Life.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/life. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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