lifetime

American  

[lahyf-tahym] / ˈlaɪfˌtaɪm /

noun

1. the time that the life of someone or something continues; the term of a life.

   peace within our lifetime.

2. Physics. mean life.

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adjective

1. for the duration of a person's life.

   He has a lifetime membership in the organization.

lifetime British  

/ ˈlaɪfˌtaɪm /

noun

1. 1. the length of time a person or animal is alive

   2. ( as modifier )

      a lifetime supply

2. the length of time that something functions, is useful, etc

3. physics the average time of existence of an unstable or reactive entity, such as a nucleus, excited state, elementary particle, etc; mean life

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Etymology

Origin of lifetime

First recorded in 1175–1225, lifetime is from the Middle English word liftime. See life, time

Example Sentences

After what feels like a lifetime of minutes dragging by, she gets up to go finish cleaning the rest of the rooms.

From Literature

Coal had been the recipient of lots of smiles from adults behind desks in his lifetime.

From Literature

But she was all smiles, walking away with memories of a lifetime and the money to buy a few things long on her wish list.

From Barron's

The initiative will have a lifetime value of $542 billion, Buck estimated.

From Barron's

I’ve started to feel like one lifetime’s not enough for this profession and that there keeps being so much to learn.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• career
• life
• period