lifelonglife‧long /ˈlaɪflɒŋ $ -lɒːŋ/ ●○○ adjective [only before noun] 
She became a lifelong friend of ours. David finally realized his lifelong ambition.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a lifelong relationship
- It was her lifelong ambition to write a best-selling novel.
- My father was a lifelong supporter of the Democrats.
- The two remained lifelong friends.
- At Puente Ruinas she lost her glasses and we all searched for them as if she had been our lifelong friend.
- His lifelong condition causes a variety of motor impairments.
- His boss is a lifelong politician.
- However, considerations of long term safety are also important as lifelong maintenance treatment is usually recommended.
- I have a lifelong experience of banking, and have had to act constantly on personal judgment.
- Otis, who bore lifelong grudges over provocations infinitely smaller than this, was realistic enough to know when he was had.
- She had been introduced to competitive shooting by her husband, Georgean engineer and a lifelong competitive shooter.
Longman Language Activatorcontinuing for all of someone's life
for the whole of your life: · I've known Jenny all my life.· Despite having worked hard all his life, Jimmy had saved very little for retirement.
if something is for life , it will continue and not change for the rest of your life: · There's no such thing as a job for life these days.· As far as I'm concerned, when you get married it's for life.
continuing for all of your life - use this about beliefs, feelings, or relationships that last for the whole of your life: lifelong supporter: · My father was a lifelong supporter of the Democrats.lifelong ambition (=something that you have always wanted to do): · It was her lifelong ambition to write a best-selling novel.lifelong friends (=friends for life): · The two remained lifelong friends.
continuing for a long time continuing for a long time: · The play was good, but it was a little too long.· He died after a long illness.· It's a long flight - 15 hours.
a lengthy process or delay takes a long time so that you have to wait before you can do something: · She died of natural causes after a lengthy illness.· The runways have reopened, but travelers have been warned to expect lengthy delays.lengthy process/procedure etc: · He was indicted on drug charges after a lengthy investigation by the US Drug Enforcement Administration. · The procedures for bringing a body back for burial are lengthy and complex.· Creating a new network system is a lengthy process.
a long-running event or performance is one that continues for a very long time: · The action is the latest in a long-running battle between the US and Canada relating to Cuban relations. · The proposal would end a long-running dispute between the Internal Revenue and the petroleum producers.· The long-running musical "Jesus Christ Superstar' is to close after more than 3,000 performances.
a long-standing situation, agreement, or arrangement has continued for a long time and is likely to continue for a long time in the future: · Motorola has a long-standing agreement to provide at least one week's training to all new employees.· The area is populated by Kurdish rebels who have long-standing grievances against Hussein.· GM maintains a long-standing policy of not commenting on market speculation and rumour.
strong enough or great enough to continue for a long time: · The speech could do lasting damage to US--German relations.· Japan's creation of a Western-style economy has been the country's lasting achievement.lasting effect/impact etc: · His next book is about the lasting effects of the Vietnam war.lasting peace/friendship/agreement etc: · Until we all give up violence, there cannot possibly be lasting peace in the world.leave/make a lasting impression: · The incident left a lasting impression on the young girl.
continuing for all of someone's life - use this about relationships, interests and feelings etc: · She first visited Ireland when she was ten, and developed a lifelong interest in the country.· Depression has been a lifelong struggle for me.lifelong ambition/dream etc: · According to his biographers, he had a lifelong ambition to make money.· For many people, owning their own business is a lifelong goal.lifelong member/resident/friend etc: · Virginia Maples, a lifelong resident, praised the town for its neighborliness. · Alvin met the poet Hughes, who became a lifelong friend and confidante.
continuing for a long time, or longer than you expected: · How are you going to explain your prolonged absence?· a prolonged and bloody battle for independence· Studies show that prolonged exposure to maternal depression can result in childhood mood disorders.
lingering doubts, hopes, or other feelings continue for a long time, especially long after a particular event: · She had a lingering sense of guilt for some time after breaking off her relationship with Henry.· For years, Mexico's primary feeling toward the US was one of lingering resentment.· What will be the lingering images of the Sydney Olympic Games?· If he had any lingering doubts about the marriage, he did not show it.
an enduring feeling, memory, influence, quality or relationship continues for a long time: · His childhood experiences had an enduring influence on his work.· My most enduring memory of my father is watching him clean his rifle.· The friendships formed in her schooldays proved to be the most enduring.· Cartoons have a universal and enduring appeal.
formal an abiding feeling, belief, or interest continues for a long time and is not likely to change: · She had a basic and abiding belief in democratic systems.· As a boy he had had an abiding curiosity about how things worked.· The internal security of his country was the President's other abiding concern.· His father had an abiding interest in nature.
a chronic illness or bad situation continues for a very long time or is permanent: · China has a chronic shortage of capital, so it must encourage saving.· the chronic decay of the inner city areas· We need to take steps to counter the chronic decline in our export market.· He suffers from chronic asthma.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY She became a lifelong friend of ours. David finally realized his lifelong ambition.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
She became a lifelong friend of ours. David finally realized his lifelong ambition. (=one that you have had all your life)· It’s been her lifelong ambition to work with horses.
· Marriage is a lifelong commitment.
(=someone who lives or spends time with someone throughout their life)· Lucinda was her best friend and lifelong companion.
(=that you have had all your life)· His lifelong dream had been to write a novel.
(=someone who has been your friend for the whole of your life)· The two men were lifelong friends.
· The two men formed a lifelong friendship.
· His lifelong passion for natural history began in childhood.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN· It's taken artist, Chris Fiddes, 60 days to complete, the realisation of a lifelong ambition.· She says it's been a lifelong ambition to work with horses.· Stephen admits he's unlikely to realise his lifelong ambition of playing for Aston Villa.· In 1990, however, David finally realised his lifelong ambition.
· One saves up for a lifelong dream, another spends all she has on a summer decades ago.· Has he traded notoriety and this brief moment for his lifelong dream?· His is not the usual tale of an athlete fueled by passion, fulfilling a lifelong dream at the Olympic Games.
· The merchant was flushed with drink; he grinned at Cranston and Athelstan as if they were lifelong friends.· The prosecuting attorney was a lifelong friend of both Wilfred and Mark.· At Puente Ruinas she lost her glasses and we all searched for them as if she had been our lifelong friend.· Alvin met the genial master poet Langston Hughes, who became a lifelong friend and confidant.· Subsequently we became lifelong friends, sailed many miles together and shared many adventures.· It was around this time that he met George Underwood who was to become a lifelong friend.· He likes his neighbors, but Arizona is too far from the ocean and too far from family and lifelong friends.
· When it does work, lifelong friendships can be forged with those you might never otherwise have been likely to meet.· Theirs is a complex and lifelong friendship, even when the tumult of the times separates them for many years.· Salisbury spoke-with great emotion, almost in tears-of his lifelong friendship.
· He made outstanding contributions to all branches of children's surgery but his lifelong interest was the aetiology of malformations.· A cure for cancer was one interest, almost a lifelong interest.· He is a distinguished astrophysicist with a lifelong interest in space.· Lowther's lifelong interest was in the development of his estates in Cumberland.· David Howard's lifelong interest in chemistry and the chemical industry was not limited to manufacture.· A wine merchant by profession, with a well-established business in the Minories, he had a lifelong interest in cricket.
WORD FAMILYnounlifelifelessnessliferadjectivelifelesslifelikelifelongadverblifelessly
continuing or existing all through your life: She became a lifelong friend of ours. David finally realized his lifelong ambition.