lifeline

American  

[lahyf-lahyn] / ˈlaɪfˌlaɪn /

noun

• lifelines
  plural

1. a line, fired across a ship or boat, by means of which a hawser for a breeches buoy may be hauled aboard.

2. a line or rope for saving life, as one attached to a lifeboat.

3. any of various lines running above the decks, spars, etc., of a ship or boat to give sailors something to grasp when there is danger of falling or being washed away.

4. a wire safety rope supported by stanchions along the edge of the deck of a yacht.

5. the line by which a diver is lowered and raised.

6. any of several anchored lines used by swimmers for support.

7. a route or means of transportation or communication for receiving or delivering food, medicine, or assistance.

   This road is the town's lifeline and must be kept open despite the snow.

8. assistance at a critical time.

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lifeline British  

/ ˈlaɪfˌlaɪn /

noun

1. a line thrown or fired aboard a vessel for hauling in a hawser for a breeches buoy

2. any rope or line attached to a vessel or trailed from it for the safety of passengers, crew, swimmers, etc

3. a line by which a deep-sea diver is raised or lowered

4. a vital line of access or communication

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• lifelines
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of lifeline

First recorded in 1690–1700; life + line ¹

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Explanation

A lifeline is a safety feature on a boat, a rope that either protects you from falling off or that you can throw to someone who's drowning. If you stumble off your friend's sailboat into the water, she'll throw you a lifeline. When sailors need to rescue a swimmer or a clumsy passenger, it helps to have a lifeline handy. And when you receive other kinds of vital support or help — a mobile phone, or a job recommendation, or a scholarship for college, for example — you can also call them lifelines. This figurative meaning has been around since the 19th century, while the "live-saving rope" definition is the earliest one, from about 1700.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lifeline lifelines

Ukraine has maintained that it is ready for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, which would reopen its lifeline to global markets.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

Shelter and counseling can offer a lifeline to those vulnerable adolescents.

From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2026

Before the medical examiner’s report became public, Lowe’s family did not reveal a cause of death but in its statement mentioned contact information for a mental health lifeline.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

Editor’s note: The national suicide and crisis lifeline is available by calling or texting 988.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026

I leaned into the familiar, comforting sounds and smells of home, holding on to them like a lifeline, and I stared at my mom, who was, unquestionably, a human being of the superior variety.

From "A Very Large Expanse of Sea" by Tahereh Mafi

Perhaps the most moving parts of the documentary are the stories of how books can become lifelines for people facing bereavement or intense loneliness.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

One by one, Iran is losing its lifelines.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

Rachel Mulrenan, Ramblers' campaigns manager, said local paths were "lifelines" which connected people with green space, fresh air, and mental and physical health.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

The U.S. launched a campaign called Operation Economic Outcast to cripple Iran’s economy by cutting off its remaining lifelines.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

When Jacqueline took my hand, her fingers felt balmy and warm against the lifelines in my palm.

From "Krik? Krak!" by Edwidge Danticat

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