life

life · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    The condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter; existence.

  2. 2.

    The existence of an individual human being.

  3. 3.

    The period between birth and death.

  4. 4.

    A particular type or aspect of existence.

  5. 5.

    Vitality, vigor, or energy.

  6. 6.

    A biography.

Forms

plural: lives

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    for life — For the rest of one's life.
  • •
    the time of one's life — An extremely enjoyable experience.
  • •
    get a life — Stop being boring or overly obsessive.
  • •
    larger than life — Exceptional; impressive.
  • •
    that's life — Accept difficulties philosophically.
  • •
    life and death — Of the utmost importance.
  • •
    come to life — Become animated or lively.
  • •
    walk of life — A person's occupation or social class.
  • •
    take someone's life — Kill someone.
  • •
    life of the party — The most entertaining person present.

Related words

Antonyms: death, nonexistence
See also: death, existence, live, lives, living
Synonyms: being, existence, lifetime, living

Etymology

From Old English līf ("life, body, person"), from Proto-Germanic lībą. Related to German Leib ("body") and Dutch lijf. The irregular plural "lives" preserves the Old English pattern.