life-changing

adjective

life-chang·​ing ˈlīf-ˌchān-jiŋ 

: having or capable of having a significant impact on someone's life

a life-changing career opportunity

a life-changing injury

… in 1986 he took a year off to travel. The experience was life-changing and led to his 1991 decision to pursue writing full-time.

—Carolyn Hart

(humorous) Made with fresh carrots, pineapple, a blend of warm spices and a homemade brown butter cream cheese frosting, this carrot cake recipe is life-changing …

—Jocelyn Delk Adams

Examples of life-changing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Shah, an actor who’s tried several times to break through, is given a life-changing opportunity to audition to be the next James Bond. —Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2026

Kimbrough said the most powerful moment for visitors will likely be seeing Earth from space, something astronauts often describe as life-changing. —Jamal Goss, CBS News, 27 Mar. 2026

The Best Dog in the World by Alice Hoffman (editor) Fourteen authors celebrate the life-changing bond with their canine companions in a collection of essays. —Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026

The initial investment is limited, but for the Americans who benefit from this program, the results could be life-changing. —Mehmet Oz, STAT, 24 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for life-changing

• interchanging
• rearranging
• arranging
• exchanging
• unchanging
• changing
• ranging