lifetime

1 of 2

noun

life·​time ˈlīf-ˌtīm How to pronounce lifetime (audio)
1
a
: the duration of the existence of a living being (such as a person or an animal) or a thing (such as a star or a subatomic particle)
2
: an amount accumulated or experienced in a lifetime
a lifetime of regrets

lifetime

2 of 2

adjective

1
2
: of long duration or continuance
lifetime legislation
3
: measured or achieved over the span of a career
a baseball player's lifetime batting average

Examples of lifetime in a Sentence

Noun a lifetime spent traveling the world It would have taken me a lifetime to read all those books. Childhood seems a lifetime ago now! a chemical with a lifetime of only a few minutes the lifetime of a planet
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
As Sabalenka found out in 2022, razing a service motion built up through a lifetime of repetitions is one of the most vulnerable things a tennis player can do. Matthew Futterman, The Athletic, 12 Jan. 2025 In addition to two season tickets until 2055, the lucky winner gets a softball game for 30 at PNC Park and a spring training experience of a lifetime that includes batting practice with the team. Tj MacIas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
Getting an Emmy award is a lifetime dream for many. Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 24 May 2021 In addition to keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops and networking, the 2019 Music Biz conference will again take time to recognize both recent and lifetime achievements. Gary Graff, Billboard, 29 Apr. 2019 See all Example Sentences for lifetime 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lifetime was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near lifetime

Cite this Entry

“Lifetime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifetime. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

lifetime

noun
life·​time
ˈlīf-ˌtīm

More from Merriam-Webster on lifetime

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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