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Synonyms

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.

adjective

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

    He has a lifetime membership in the organization.
lifetime British  
/ ˈlaɪfˌtaɪm /

noun

    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

"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

Etymology

Origin of lifetime

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

And lifetime income solutions provide income, like a pension.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 2, 2026

Placing an IRA directly in a trust during his lifetime is legally invalid and could trigger significant tax or estate-planning issues.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

But during his all-too-brief lifetime, he was better known for his tranquil views of the Channel coast.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

"I don't think I've ever been proud of myself in my lifetime but I'm extremely proud of what I've achieved."

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

He'd just made the shot of a lifetime in front of thousands of people, and for the first time in a week, he actually hadn't been thinking about money.

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty

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.