Definition

1. Noun:
   • The condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death: The state of being alive.
   • The existence of an individual human being or animal: The period from birth to death, or the experience of being alive.
   • A particular type or aspect of human existence: A way or manner of living.
   • Living things and their activity: The collective state or presence of living organisms.
   • Vitality, energy, or animation: Liveliness or spirit.
   • A biography: A written account of a person's life.
   • A sentence of imprisonment for the duration of a prisoner's natural life: A life sentence.
   • The period during which something functions or exists: The duration of operation or usefulness of an object or concept.

Usage and Examples

• Referring to the state of being alive:
  • The origin of life on Earth is a major scientific question.
  • The doctor fought to save the patient's life.
• Referring to the period of existence:
  • She lived her entire life in the same small town.
  • He devoted his life to helping others.
• Referring to a way of living:
  • They enjoy a quiet life in the countryside.
  • City life can be fast-paced and exciting.
• Referring to living organisms collectively:
  • The forest is full of life.
  • Is there life on other planets?
• Referring to energy or spirit:
  • The actor brought life to the character.
  • The party was lacking in life until the music started.
• Referring to a biography:
  • He is reading a life of Winston Churchill.
• Referring to a life sentence:
  • The murderer was given life.
• Referring to the functional period of something:
  • The life of a smartphone battery is often too short.
  • This policy has outlived its useful life.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "For life": For the rest of one's life; permanently.
  • He was blinded in the accident and disabled for life.
  • They became friends for life.
• "A matter of life and death": An extremely serious situation.
  • Getting this medicine to the remote village is a matter of life and death.
• "To come to life":
  • To become animated or lively.

    • The dull presentation came to life when she started speaking.
  • To regain consciousness.

    • The patient came to life after the surgery.
• "To bring to life": To make something seem real or alive.
  • The illustrator brought the ancient story to life.
• "The time of one's life": A wonderfully enjoyable experience.
  • We had the time of our lives on vacation.
• "To take someone's life": To kill someone.
  • The driver's recklessness took an innocent life.
• "To take one's own life": To commit suicide. (A formal/idiomatic expression)
  • He tragically took his own life.
• "In the prime of life": At the peak of one's health, vitality, or success.
  • She was struck by illness while still in the prime of life.

Variants and Related Words

• Lives /laɪvz/: Plural form of 'life'.
  • They saved countless lives during the disaster.
• Lifeless (adj): Having no life; dead, or lacking energy.
  • The lifeless body was found in the river.
  • Her performance was flat and lifeless.
• Lifelike (adj): Very similar to the real person or thing.
  • The statue was incredibly lifelike.
• Lifelong (adj): Lasting for the whole of a person's life.
  • They were lifelong companions.
• Lifetime (n): The duration of a person's life.
  • A lifetime of experience.
• Lifestyle (n): The way in which a person or group lives.
  • A healthy lifestyle.

Synonyms

• Existence: The fact or state of living.
• Being: The nature or essence of a person.
• Vitality: The state of being strong and active; energy.
• Animation: The state of being full of life or vigor.
• Biography: An account of someone's life written by someone else.

Antonyms

• Death: The permanent end of all life functions in an organism.
• Inanimacy: The state of not being alive.

Idioms and Fixed Expressions

• "A new lease of life": A renewed opportunity for a happy or successful existence.
  • The successful operation gave him a new lease of life.
• "As large as life": Used to emphasize that someone is very obviously present.
  • I turned the corner, and there he was, as large as life.
• "To escape with life and limb": To escape without serious injury.
  • Miraculously, everyone escaped the crash with life and limb.
• "For dear life": With great effort or desperation, as if to save one's life.
  • She held onto the rope for dear life.
• "Not on your life!": Used to express strong refusal.
  • "Would you ever try bungee jumping?" "Not on your life!"
• "That's life": An expression of acceptance when something bad or disappointing happens.
  • I didn't get the job I wanted, but that's life.
• "To the life": Exactly like the original; very realistically.
  • The portrait was drawn to the life.
• "Way of life": The typical pattern of behavior of a person or group.
  • Farming is not just a job; it's a way of life.

Noun

1. a prison term lasting as long as the prisoner lives
   • he got life for killing the guard
2. a motive for living
   • pottery was his life
3. an account of the series of events making up a person's life
4. the organic phenomenon that distinguishes living organisms from nonliving ones
   • there is no life on the moon
5. living things collectively
   • the oceans are teeming with life
6. animation and energy in action or expression
   • it was a heavy play and the actors tried in vain to give life to it
7. a living person
   • his heroism saved a life
8. the period from the present until death
   • he appointed himself emperor for life
9. the period between birth and the present time
   • I have known him all his life
10. the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death)
    • the battery had a short life
    • he lived a long and happy life
11. the condition of living or the state of being alive
    • while there's life there's hope
    • life depends on many chemical and physical processes
12. the course of existence of an individual; the actions and events that occur in living
    • he hoped for a new life in Australia
    • he wanted to live his own life without interference from others
13. the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities
    • he could no longer cope with the complexities of life
14. a characteristic state or mode of living
    • social life
    • city life
    • real life