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Synonyms

lifelong

American  
[lahyf-lawng, -long] / ˈlaɪfˌlɔŋ, -ˌlɒŋ /

adjective

  1. lasting or continuing through all or much of one's life.

    lifelong regret.
lifelong British  
/ ˈlaɪfˌlɒŋ /

adjective

  1. lasting for or as if for a lifetime

"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

Etymology

Origin of lifelong

1750–60; life + long 1 (adv.)

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.

Wiseman says he has a lifelong love of flying, but on the ground he's afraid of heights.

From BBC

McMurtry’s stark assessment grew in part from a vexation that, despite his lifelong project to demythologize the cowboy, the ultimate American icon, his most celebrated book had the inverse effect.

From The Wall Street Journal

"I'm very excited... it is the culmination of a lifelong dream being able to do this and take part in this whole mission," said Burger.

From BBC

Jordan says the hiatus led them to reflect for the first time on whether their lifelong ambition was truly what they wanted.

From Los Angeles Times

As a lifelong athlete, he put a lot of thought into the gym at the Rancho Santa Fe house, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

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.