life
LYF
Life (noun) means the condition of being alive, as opposed to being dead or inanimate. Example: “Doctors fought to save the patient's life.”
noun
1
The condition of being alive, as opposed to being dead or inanimate.
"Doctors fought to save the patient's life."
"Life on Earth depends on water."
"Scientists are searching for signs of life on other planets."
2
The period of time someone or something exists, from birth (or creation) to death (or end of use).
"She spent her whole life in the same small town."
"The batteries have a life of about two years."
"The old oak tree has had a long life in the churchyard."
3
A person's daily existence and experiences, especially their activities, relationships, and circumstances.
"He talked about his life growing up in Manchester."
"Work-life balance became her top priority."
"Moving abroad completely changed her life, from her friends to her daily routine."
4
Liveliness, energy, or vitality.
"The party really came to life once the music started."
"The children brought the garden to life with their laughter and games."
"A bit of fresh paint gave the tired old room new life."
5
A prison sentence lasting until death or parole; short for "life sentence."
"He was sentenced to life for the murder."
"The judge gave him life, and he will not be released soon."
"She was serving life and hoped to apply for parole someday."
How to use life
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBeing alive, the time you spend alive, or (informally) a prison sentence of that length.
Common pairings
way of life
lose one's life
life sentence
bring to life
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Word forms
- Plural
- lives
- Third person singular
- lifes
- Past tense
- lifed
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Doctors fought to save the patient's _____.
Etymology
From Old English lif, going back to a Proto-Germanic root related to "remaining" or "staying" — the same deep root that gives us "leave" and "belief."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for life
See all rhymes for life →Frequently asked questions
What does “life” mean?
The word “life” means the condition of being alive, as opposed to being dead or inanimate. In plain terms, being alive, the time you spend alive, or (informally) a prison sentence of that length.
How do you pronounce “life”?
“Life” is pronounced LYF (/ˈlaɪ̯f/ in IPA).
How do you use “life” in a sentence?
Here is “life” used in a sentence: “Doctors fought to save the patient's life.”
What is another word for “life”?
Words with a similar meaning to “life” include the world in general.
What is the opposite of “life”?
The opposite of “life” — its antonyms — are death, void and coma.
What part of speech is “life”?
“Life” is a noun.
Where does the word “life” come from?
The word “life” comes from Old English. From Old English lif, going back to a Proto-Germanic root related to "remaining" or "staying" — the same deep root that gives us "leave" and "belief.".
Is “life” a common word?
“Life” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the opposite of life?
The clearest opposite is 'death,' the end of being alive. 'Life' can also contrast with anything inanimate or lifeless, such as a stone or a machine, which has never been alive at all. So both 'death' and 'lifelessness' stand opposite to life, depending on the context.
What is the difference between life and lifetime?
'Life' is the condition of being alive, or existence itself. 'Lifetime' refers specifically to the length of time that a life lasts, its full duration from birth to death. You might say someone valued life deeply, and that they achieved a great deal within their lifetime.
What are the different meanings of 'life'?
Beyond the condition of being alive, 'life' can mean a person's individual existence ('her whole life'), living things collectively ('life on Earth'), a period of activity ('working life'), or energy and liveliness ('full of life'). The core idea of being alive runs through all of these senses.
What is an example of 'life' in a sentence?
'The doctors fought to save his life' uses the core sense of being alive. 'There is no life on the barren planet' refers to living things generally. 'She led a happy life' points to a person's existence over time. Each draws on the idea of being alive.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing life in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
And on Friday, the unauthorized Clark show continued to reach new heights before Obama had even left the building, while his words and intention will stick with her for the rest of her life.
From
Yahoo Sports · Jul 25, 2026
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