lifelong
LYF-lawng
Lifelong (adj) means lasting for someone's entire life. Example: “They remained lifelong friends after meeting at university.”
adj
1
Lasting for someone's entire life.
"He studied English at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, and developed a lifelong interest in medieval history as a result of reading Chaucer."
— Stuart Jeffries, Terry Jones obituary (2020)
"They were lifelong friends; they met in elementary school and ended their lives in the same rest home."
"They remained lifelong friends after meeting at university."
"He developed a lifelong passion for astronomy as a child."
"She bought the model as a surprise gift for a friend who is a lifelong HST fan and railwayman, and who will soon be celebrating a milestone birthday."
— , Stop & Examine (2021)
"Learning to swim at an early age can bring lifelong confidence in the water."
How to use lifelong
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishContinuing for a whole life, from start to finish.
Common pairings
lifelong friend
lifelong learning
lifelong dream
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Etymology
Formed from life + long, describing something that stretches across a whole lifetime.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for lifelong
See all rhymes for lifelong →Frequently asked questions
What does “lifelong” mean?
The word “lifelong” means lasting for someone's entire life. In plain terms, continuing for a whole life, from start to finish.
How do you pronounce “lifelong”?
“Lifelong” is pronounced LYF-lawng (/ˈlaɪf.lɔːŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “lifelong” in a sentence?
Here is “lifelong” used in a sentence: “They remained lifelong friends after meeting at university.”
What part of speech is “lifelong”?
“Lifelong” is an adjective.
Is “lifelong” a common word?
“Lifelong” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between "lifelong" and "life-long"?
"Lifelong" and "life-long" refer to the same meaning — lasting for someone's entire life — and differ only in spelling style. "Lifelong" (one word, no hyphen) is the standard modern spelling in most style guides.
What is the difference between "lifelong" and "permanent"?
"Lifelong" specifically means lasting for a person's whole life, such as a lifelong friendship or lifelong learning. "Permanent" is broader and doesn't require a connection to a person's lifespan — a permanent fixture, for example, isn't tied to anyone's life.
Is "lifelong" used only to describe people?
No, "lifelong" is commonly applied to relationships, habits, interests, or commitments that persist through someone's entire life, such as a "lifelong passion" or "lifelong resident." It describes duration relative to a person's life rather than the person directly.
