life
1 of 2noun
ˈlīf 
plural lives ˈlīvz
1
a
: the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional being from a dead body
b
: a principle or force that is considered to underlie the distinctive quality of animate beings
c
: an organismic state characterized by capacity for metabolism (see metabolism sense 1), growth, reaction to stimuli, and reproduction
2
a
: the sequence of physical and mental experiences that make up the existence of an individual
children … are the joy of our lives—
Agnes S. Turnbull
Agnes S. Turnbull b
: one or more aspects of the process of living
sex life of the frog
3
: biography sense 1
the life of George Washington
4
: spiritual existence transcending (see transcend sense 1c) physical death
his craving … for the release into the life to come—Rodney Gilbert
Rodney Gilbert5
a
: the period from birth to death
b
: a specific phase of earthly existence
adult life
c
: the period from an event until death
a judge appointed for life
d
: a sentence of imprisonment for the remainder of a convict's life
6
: a way or manner of living
the life of the colonists
7
: livelihood
The fishing village drew its life from the sea.
8
: a vital or living being
specifically : person
many lives were lost in the disaster
9
: an animating and shaping force or principle
the life of the constitution … has been not logic but experience—F. A. Ogg & Harold Zink
F. A. Ogg & Harold Zink10
: spirit, animation
saw no life in her dancing
11
: the form or pattern of something existing in reality
painted from life
12
: the period of duration, usefulness, or popularity of something
the expected life of the batteries
13
: the period of existence (as of a subatomic particle) compare half-life
14
: a property (such as resilience (see resilience sense 1) or elasticity) of an inanimate (see inanimate sense 1) substance or object resembling the animate quality of a living being
15
: living beings (as of a particular kind or environment)
forest life
16
a
: human activities
b
: animate activity and movement
stirrings of life
c
: the activities of a given sphere, area, or time
the political life of the country
17
: one providing interest and vigor
life of the party
18
: an opportunity for continued viability
gave the patient a new life
19
capitalized Christian Science : god sense 1b
20
: something resembling animate life
a grant saved the project's life
see also get one's life back together, get one's life together
life
2 of 2adjective
1
: of or relating to animate being
2
: lifelong
a life member
3
: using a living model
a life class
4
: of, relating to, or provided by life insurance
a life policy
Synonyms
Noun
- bio
- biography
- memoir
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun He believes that God gives life to all creatures. She was happy and healthy for most of her life. The people in her family tend to have long lives. I've known her all my life. He is nearing the end of his life. People can expect to change jobs several times in their life . They've been waiting their whole life for an opportunity like this. What do you really want out of life? All this paperwork has made life much more difficult. The details of everyday life can be fascinating. Adjective the life force in all things He was given a life sentence in prison. See More
Recent Examples on the WebTaylor Lorenz, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2023 Catherine Breillat adapts an infamous scenario from her own life as a filmmaker. —Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 14 Feb. 2023 Now, thanks to digitalization in the 21st century, global trade, our global economy and global businesses seem commonplace in our everyday life. —Scott Hoots, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2023 In this comedy series, Mindy Kaling stars as a New York OB/GYN named Mindy, who tries to navigate through her life in scrubs while trying to score the rom-com love of her dreams. —Hannah Kerns, Peoplemag, 14 Feb. 2023 Shortly after midnight, police reported the shooting suspect had taken his own life. —Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 14 Feb. 2023 To me, these songs are like scenes from a film that is my life. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 14 Feb. 2023 The performances recount her life, including her imprisonment in Iolani Palace for eight months as the Hawaiian Kingdom was overthrown by western interests. —Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2023 Also this month, a New Jersey community was roiled when a 14-year-old student took her own life after a TikTok video showed she was attacked by several other teenagers. —Brian Fung, CNN, 14 Feb. 2023 Jesús Marrero Suárez, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Feb. 2023 Both were taken to MetroHealth Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. —Megan Sims, cleveland, 22 Jan. 2023 The unidentified deputy was treated by Sunrise Fire Rescue personnel and was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. —Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2023 The injuries are non-life-threatening, Harris said. —Miriam Marini, Detroit Free Press, 19 Jan. 2023 They were taken to a hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, police said. —Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2023 Officers on the scene were told about a walk-in victim at an area hospital and arrived to find a 31-year-old man with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. —Lorraine Mirabella, Baltimore Sun, 1 Jan. 2023 His injuries were also reported to be non-life-threatening. —Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 27 Dec. 2022 Three people in the pickup — the driver and two passengers — were taken to the hospital with what police described as non-life-threatening injuries. —Anchorage Daily News, 22 Dec. 2022 See More
Noun
Far-right influencers and politicians began spreading lies about her work and her personal life. —Taylor Lorenz, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2023 Catherine Breillat adapts an infamous scenario from her own life as a filmmaker. —Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 14 Feb. 2023 Now, thanks to digitalization in the 21st century, global trade, our global economy and global businesses seem commonplace in our everyday life. —Scott Hoots, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2023 In this comedy series, Mindy Kaling stars as a New York OB/GYN named Mindy, who tries to navigate through her life in scrubs while trying to score the rom-com love of her dreams. —Hannah Kerns, Peoplemag, 14 Feb. 2023 Shortly after midnight, police reported the shooting suspect had taken his own life. —Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 14 Feb. 2023 To me, these songs are like scenes from a film that is my life. —Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 14 Feb. 2023 The performances recount her life, including her imprisonment in Iolani Palace for eight months as the Hawaiian Kingdom was overthrown by western interests. —Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2023 Also this month, a New Jersey community was roiled when a 14-year-old student took her own life after a TikTok video showed she was attacked by several other teenagers. —Brian Fung, CNN, 14 Feb. 2023 Adjective
The two juvenile passengers sustained non-life threatening injuries and were transported to the hospital, Corcoran said. —Jesús Marrero Suárez, BostonGlobe.com, 4 Feb. 2023 Both were taken to MetroHealth Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. —Megan Sims, cleveland, 22 Jan. 2023 The unidentified deputy was treated by Sunrise Fire Rescue personnel and was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. —Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2023 The injuries are non-life-threatening, Harris said. —Miriam Marini, Detroit Free Press, 19 Jan. 2023 They were taken to a hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, police said. —Rachel Schilke, Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2023 Officers on the scene were told about a walk-in victim at an area hospital and arrived to find a 31-year-old man with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. —Lorraine Mirabella, Baltimore Sun, 1 Jan. 2023 His injuries were also reported to be non-life-threatening. —Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 27 Dec. 2022 Three people in the pickup — the driver and two passengers — were taken to the hospital with what police described as non-life-threatening injuries. —Anchorage Daily News, 22 Dec. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun and Adjective
Middle English lif, from Old English līf; akin to Old English libban to live — more at live
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing life
Kids Definition
life
1 of 2 noun ˈlīf
plural lives ˈlīvz
1
a
: the quality that separates plants and animals from such things as water or rock : the quality that plants and animals lose when they die
b
: a state of a living thing marked especially by capacity for metabolism, growth, reaction to stimuli, and reproduction
2
a
: all the experiences that make up the existence of a person
never heard of such a thing in all my life
b
: biography
3
a
: the period during which a person, animal, or plant lives
b
: a specific part of living
adult life
c
: the period from an event until death
remained friends for life
4
: a way or manner of living
the life of the ant
5
: a living being
many lives were saved
6
: energy or spirit in action or expression
eyes full of life
still some life left in the coals
7
: the form or pattern of something that exists in actual fact
painted from life
looks larger than life
8
: the period of usefulness, popularity, or existence of something
battery life
the life of an insurance policy
9
: living beings (as of a kind or place)
forest life
10
: living activity and movement
stirrings of life
streets humming with life
11
: one providing interest and vigor
the life of the party
life
2 of 2 adjective1
: of or relating to living existence
the life force
2
: lifelong
a life member
Medical Definition
life
noun ˈlīf
plural lives ˈlīvz
1
a
: the quality that distinguishes a vital and functional plant or animal from a dead body
b
: a state of living characterized by capacity for metabolism, growth, reaction to stimuli, and reproduction
2
a
: the sequence of physical and mental experiences that make up the existence of an individual
b
: a specific part or aspect of the process of living
sex life
adult life
lifeless
ˈlīf-ləs
adjective lifers
noun
1
as in convicts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- convicts
- trusties
- cons
- prisoners
- parolees
- jailbirds
- inmates
- captives
- internees
- probationers
- captures
2
as in veterans
Synonyms & Similar Words
- veterans
- combatants
- draftees
- recruits
- conscripts
- warhorses
- enrollees
- noncombatants
- guerrillas
- reservists
- paramilitaries
- irregulars
- guardsmen
- guerillas
- militiamen
- partisans
- partizans
- minutemen
- champions
- knights
- lancers
- counterguerillas
- Confederates
- gendarmes
- pikemen
- diggers
- Continentals
- GIs
- spearmen
- counterguerrillas
- archers
- crossbowmen
- gallowglasses
- Federals
- GI's
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- civilians