prime of life

Idioms  

1. The best years of one's life, when one is at the peak of one's powers, as in She was in the prime of life when she began to lose her sight. The related phrase in one's prime can be applied to objects as well as persons. For example, The roses were in their prime when you last saw them. In both idioms prime means “first in quality or character.” [Early 1700s] Also see past one's prime.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prime of life

“The paradox is that of entering the prime of life, the stage of fulfillment, but at the same time the prime and fulfillment are dated,” he wrote.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

Alzheimer's disease has plagued one large Colombian family for generations, striking down half of its members in the prime of life.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 11, 2023

They become the sickest person in the room, the one you desperately need to save because a young adult in the prime of life should not die.

From Slate ● Nov. 26, 2023

Those most likely to be captured, men and women in the prime of life, had been contributing the greatest share of labor to their communities.

From Textbooks ● Dec. 14, 2022

Suddenly, I had to pay my respects to this innocent creature, cut down in the prime of life.

From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman

Related Words

• ability
• capability
• experience
• manhood
• maturation
• sophistication
• wisdom
• womanhood