life

noun

UK /laɪf/

Word Forms

singular	life
plural	lives

1
countable/uncountable the period of time from someone’s birth until their death
She devoted her life to helping others.
He had a long and happy life.
spend your life:
Don’t spend your whole life worrying about money.
in (all) your life:
I have never been so disappointed in my life.
all your life:
She’s lived in California all her life.
early life (=the time when you are a child):
He spent his early life in Malaysia.
adult life (=the time when you are an adult):
He lived most of his adult life in prison.
in later life (=towards the end of someone’s life):
It was in later life that he wrote some of his best poems.
late in life (=at a time in your life that is later than usual):
She got married late in life.
for life (=continuing through your whole life):
The accident left her scarred for life.
Synonyms and related words
General words for life
life
lifespan
lifetime
See alsoworking life
2
countable usually singularyour particular way of living and the experiences that you have
His life revolves around his children.
It was an event that would change his life forever.
lead a happy/normal/interesting etc life:
I just want to be able to lead a normal life.
a hard life (=a difficult life):
She looks like someone who’s had a very hard life.
Synonyms and related words
Ways of life
life
lifestyle
existence
1. 2a
  countable/uncountable the events and experiences that are typical of a particular place or group of people
  I had no idea what life with a baby would be like.
  city/village/prison/university etc life:
  Escape from the bustle and noise of city life for a while.
  the life of someone:
  The life of a film star is not always a glamorous one.
  married life (=the time when you are married or the life that you have):
  How’s married life suiting you?
  Synonyms and related words
  General words meaning event
  episode
  event
  incident
2. 2b
  uncountable the events and experiences that happen to people in general
  He’s a person who really loves life.
  His mother has a great enthusiasm for life.
  see life (=experience a lot of different things):
  You really see life in my job.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words meaning event
  episode
  event
  incident
3
countable/uncountable the state of being alive
He believed his life was in danger.
claim lives (=kill people):
The disease is still claiming thousands of lives every year.
risk your life:
They risk their lives to protect the people they love.
put your/someone’s life at risk:
They are putting lives at risk with their irresponsible behaviour.
Synonyms and related words
Alive
alive
living
live
4
uncountable living things such as plants and animals
We are now beginning to believe that there may be life on other planets.
animal/plant/insect/bird life:
the great variety of bird life in the area
Synonyms and related words
General words for living things
animal
creature
organism
5
singular the period of time during which something exists or continues
life of:
During the life of this government, unemployment has increased by 5%.
Synonyms and related words
Existence and the length of time that something exists
existence
lifetime
life
1. 5a
  the period of time during which something is still good enough to be used
  life of:
  The average life of a television is about ten years.
  Synonyms and related words
  General periods of time
  a clear run
  a page in something’s history
  block
6
uncountable the amount of activity or excitement in a place
There’s not much life in this village.
Synonyms and related words
The quality of being interesting, exciting or lively
mystery
life
novelty
1. 6a
  interesting or exciting qualities
  The early stories are full of life.
  Synonyms and related words
  The quality of being interesting, exciting or lively
  mystery
  life
  novelty
7
countable in a game, one of a number of times that you can lose but still continue to play
lose a life:
When you’ve lost three lives, you’re out.
Synonyms and related words
Actions in playing games or sports
backhand
backhander
ball
8
uncountable life imprisonment
get life:
You’d expect him to get life for such a serious crime.
Synonyms and related words
Punishment in prison
at his/her Majesty’s pleasure
concurrent sentence
confinement
9
take your life into your hands
to do something very risky
He’s taking his life into his hands jumping from a first floor window.
Submitted by:
Emran Khoshrouye Ghiasi from Iran, Islamic Republic of on 23/05/2018
Open Dictionary - May2018

phrases

bring something to life

from life

get a life

lay down your life

the life and soul (of the party)

life begins at forty

life goes on

life’s too short

the man/woman in your life

the next life

not for the life of me

not on your life

of your life

put your life in someone’s hands

risk/sacrifice life and limb

take someone’s life

take your own life

that’s life

this is the life

the time of your life

life

noun

US /laɪf/

Word Forms

singular	life
plural	lives

1
countable/uncountable the period of time from someone’s birth until their death
She devoted her life to helping others.
He had a long and happy life.
in (all) your life:
I have never been so disappointed in my life.
all your life:
She’s lived in California all her life.
early life (=the time when you are a child):
He spent his early life in Malaysia.
in later life (=toward the end of someone’s life):
It was in later life that he wrote some of his best poems.
late in life (=at a time in your life that is later than usual):
She got married late in life.
for life (=continuing through your whole life):
The accident left her scarred for life.
adult life (=the time when you are an adult):
He lived most of his adult life in prison.
spend your life:
Don’t spend your whole life worrying about money.
Synonyms and related words
General words for life
life
lifespan
lifetime
See alsoworking life
2
countable usually singularyour particular way of living and the experiences that you have
His life revolves around his children.
It was an event that would change his life forever.
lead a happy/normal/interesting etc. life:
I just want to be able to lead a normal life.
a hard life (=a difficult life):
She looks like someone who’s had a very hard life.
Synonyms and related words
Ways of life
life
lifestyle
existence
1. 2a
  countable/uncountable the events and experiences that are typical of a particular place or group of people
  I had no idea what life with a baby would be like.
  city/farm/prison/university etc. life:
  Escape from the bustle and noise of city life for a while.
  the life of someone:
  The life of a movie star is not always a glamorous one.
  married life (=the time when you are married or the life that you have):
  How’s married life treating you?
  Synonyms and related words
  General words meaning event
  episode
  event
  incident
2. 2b
  uncountable the events and experiences that happen to people in general
  He’s a person who really loves life.
  His mother has a great enthusiasm for life.
  see life (=experience a lot of different things):
  You really see life in my job.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words meaning event
  episode
  event
  incident
3
countable/uncountable the state of being alive
He believed his life was in danger.
claim lives (=kill people):
The disease is still claiming thousands of lives every year.
risk your life:
They risk their lives to protect the people they love.
put your/someone’s life at risk:
They are putting lives at risk with their irresponsible behavior.
Synonyms and related words
Alive
alive
living
live
4
uncountable living things such as plants and animals
We are now beginning to believe that there may be life on other planets.
animal/plant/insect/bird life:
the great variety of bird life in the area
Synonyms and related words
General words for living things
animal
creature
organism
5
singular the period of time during which something exists or continues
life of:
During the life of this government, unemployment has increased by 5%.
Synonyms and related words
Existence and the length of time that something exists
existence
lifetime
life
1. 5a
  the period of time during which something is still good enough to be used
  life of:
  The average life of a television is about ten years.
  Synonyms and related words
  General periods of time
  a clear run
  a page in something’s history
  block
6
uncountable interesting or exciting qualities
The early stories are full of life.
Synonyms and related words
The quality of being interesting, exciting or lively
mystery
life
novelty
1. 6a
  the amount of activity or excitement in a place
  There’s not much life in this little town.
  Synonyms and related words
  The quality of being interesting, exciting or lively
  mystery
  life
  novelty
7
countable in a game, one of a number of times that you can lose but still continue to play
lose a life:
When you’ve lost three lives, you’re out.
Synonyms and related words
Actions in playing games or sports
backhand
backhander
ball
8
uncountable life imprisonment
get life:
You’d expect him to get life for such a serious crime.
Synonyms and related words
Punishment in prison
concurrent sentence
confinement
consecutive sentence
9
take your life into your hands
to do something very risky
He’s taking his life into his hands jumping from a first floor window.
Submitted by:
Emran Khoshrouye Ghiasi from Iran, Islamic Republic of on 23/05/2018
Open Dictionary - May2018

phrases

bring something to life

from life

get a life

lay down your life

the life and soul (of the party)

life begins at forty

life goes on

life’s too short

the man/woman in your life

the next life

not for the life of me

not on your life

of your life

put your life in someone’s hands

risk/sacrifice life and limb

take someone’s life

take your own life

that’s life

this is the life

the time of your life

life ​‌‌‌

take your life into your hands

life ​‌‌‌

take your life into your hands

life

life