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Synonyms

lifelike

American  
[lahyf-lahyk] / ˈlaɪfˌlaɪk /

adjective

  1. resembling or simulating real life.

    a lifelike portrait.
lifelike British  
/ ˈlaɪfˌlaɪk /

adjective

  1. closely resembling or representing life

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • lifelikeness noun
  • unlifelike adjective

Etymology

Origin of lifelike

First recorded in 1605–15; life + -like

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"We always knew our plushie toy collection was lifelike, but it seems we finally got the ultimate seal of approval," store manager Liam Bloomfield said.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

The rapid evolution of AI means that these videos are becoming more lifelike all the time.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

There is a particular thrill in beholding a portrait as old and as lifelike as Isidora’s, just over a foot in height and 6 inches wide.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

This sensitivity contributes to what scientists call the "Uncanny Valley," a phenomenon where robots appear unsettling rather than lifelike.

From Science Daily • Jan. 16, 2026

At first the colors of the picture had been too showy and not as they were in real life, but after a year they faded into softer, lifelike colors.

From "Homeless Bird" by Gloria Whelan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.