Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

lifelike

American  
[lahyf-lahyk] / ˈlaɪfˌlaɪk /

adjective

  1. resembling or simulating real life.

    a lifelike portrait.
lifelike British  
/ ˈlaɪfˌlaɪk /

adjective

  1. closely resembling or representing life

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • lifelikeness noun
  • unlifelike adjective

Etymology

Origin of lifelike

First recorded in 1605–15; life + -like

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.

The rapid evolution of AI means that these videos are becoming more lifelike all the time.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

There is a particular thrill in beholding a portrait as old and as lifelike as Isidora’s, just over a foot in height and 6 inches wide.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

Global tech giants are investing vast sums into humanoid and other lifelike robots, with grand plans for factory automation, home help and other futuristic "physical AI" services.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

The “M3GAN” dolls were so lifelike, and the real sell wasn’t their eyes that draw you in, but the skin.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025

Dustfinger mewed in so lifelike a fashion that several cats answered, but nothing moved behind the window.

From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke

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.