lifetime
Americannoun
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lifetimes
plural
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the time that the life of someone or something continues; the term of a life.
peace within our lifetime.
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Physics. mean life.
adjective
noun
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the length of time a person or animal is alive
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( as modifier )
a lifetime supply
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the length of time that something functions, is useful, etc
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physics the average time of existence of an unstable or reactive entity, such as a nucleus, excited state, elementary particle, etc; mean life
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of lifetime
First recorded in 1175–1225, lifetime is from the Middle English word liftime. See life, time
Explanation
A lifetime is the entire length of time a person or other living thing is alive. After a famous actor dies, she may be fondly remembered for a lifetime of great movie roles. Things that take up most of the duration of a person's life are often described using the word lifetime, like a terrible driver's lifetime ban on holding a driver's license, or a lifetime achievement award for all of your accomplishments. You can also talk about the lifetime of an object, or the length of time it's useful, and use lifetime figuratively, to mean "a very long time."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The goal with an annuity is to put down a lump sum today that will give you a payout for the fixed costs you want to cover for your lifetime.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026
The Oscar-winning actor reflects on a lifetime of work with the filmmaker, with whom she collaborated on ‘Blue Velvet,’ ‘Wild at Heart’ and ‘Inland Empire.’
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026
"It's believed that the lifetime of a proton is longer than the lifespan of the universe," Lewis said.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
But there’s an upside to gradually winnowing a lifetime of possessions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
There is a pause that lasts almost an entire night, that for Scheherazade feels like the rest of her lifetime.
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
L.A. arts patrons Betty Freeman and Richard Colburn provided important support for Salzburg during their lifetimes that included commissioning new work.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
With only a handful of lyrics, she revisits a million lifetimes replete with monumental change and insights only an artist of her caliber could convey.
From Salon ● Jul. 8, 2026
As researchers develop even purer magnetic materials, magnon lifetimes may continue to improve.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 2, 2026
Labor’s share of income, which is about 60% now, will almost definitely go below 50% in our lifetimes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
And a vuvv lawsuit will ruin us—vuvv law costs people more than they will earn in twelve lifetimes.
From "Landscape with Invisible Hand" by M.T. Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
