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

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

“We’re living in a time when young people in their prime of life are getting colon cancers,” Itzkowitz said.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 27, 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

The fatalities have lasting repercussions, since most of them occurred among people aged 25 to 55, in the prime of life, she added.

From New York Times • Nov. 17, 2021

Which makes you wonder, are they really speaking real words, or do little kids just start out naturally understanding each other before the prime of life sets in?

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

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