1
a
: the duration of the existence of a living being (such as a person or an animal) or a thing (such as a star or a subatomic particle)
b
2
: an amount accumulated or experienced in a lifetime
a lifetime of regrets
1
: lifelong
2
: of long duration or continuance
lifetime legislation
3
: measured or achieved over the span of a career
a baseball player's lifetime batting average
Examples of lifetime in a Sentence
Noun
a lifetime spent traveling the world
It would have taken me a lifetime to read all those books.
Childhood seems a lifetime ago now!
a chemical with a lifetime of only a few minutes
the lifetime of a planet
Recent Examples on the Web
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 May 2025
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 has also expanded the use of 529 funds to include up to $10,000 per year for K–12 tuition and a lifetime limit of $10,000 for student loan repayment.
—True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 24 May 2021
In addition to keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops and networking, the 2019 Music Biz conference will again take time to recognize both recent and lifetime achievements.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 29 Apr. 2019
See All Example Sentences for lifetime
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Even protected from public pressure in lifetime appointments, the court recently created an ethics code, albeit essentially self-enforced.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 May 2025
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 has also expanded the use of 529 funds to include up to $10,000 per year for K–12 tuition and a lifetime limit of $10,000 for student loan repayment.
—True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
Adjective
Getting an Emmy award is a lifetime dream for many.
—Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 24 May 2021
In addition to keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops and networking, the 2019 Music Biz conference will again take time to recognize both recent and lifetime achievements.
—Gary Graff, Billboard, 29 Apr. 2019
See All Example Sentences for lifetime
Cite this Entry
“Lifetime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifetime. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share