lifetime
Americannoun
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the time that the life of someone or something continues; the term of a life.
peace within our lifetime.
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Physics. mean life.
adjective
noun
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the length of time a person or animal is alive
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( as modifier )
a lifetime supply
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the length of time that something functions, is useful, etc
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physics the average time of existence of an unstable or reactive entity, such as a nucleus, excited state, elementary particle, etc; mean life
Etymology
Origin of lifetime
First recorded in 1175–1225, lifetime is from the Middle English word liftime. See life, time
Explanation
A lifetime is the entire length of time a person or other living thing is alive. After a famous actor dies, she may be fondly remembered for a lifetime of great movie roles. Things that take up most of the duration of a person's life are often described using the word lifetime, like a terrible driver's lifetime ban on holding a driver's license, or a lifetime achievement award for all of your accomplishments. You can also talk about the lifetime of an object, or the length of time it's useful, and use lifetime figuratively, to mean "a very long time."
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.
She does, after all, do precise procedures on camera for the Lifetime audience.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026
Her first Oscar nomination came in 1986 for drama "Twice in a Lifetime," in which she played a woman suffering in a difficult marriage.
From Barron's • Mar. 15, 2026
Weapons star Amy Madigan, meanwhile, is nominated for the second time, a whopping 40 years after her first nomination, for the aptly named Twice in a Lifetime.
From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026
This trend will continue through 2027, according to the Retirement Income Institute at the Alliance for Lifetime Income.
From MarketWatch • Feb. 18, 2026
Still nothing on TV except for an overly dramatic Lifetime movie that my mother was totally into.
From "All American Boys" by Jason Reynolds
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.
