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life

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noun British English pronunciation: life /laɪf/ 
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singularlife
plurallives
Other entries for this word
 
  1. 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.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of life
    See also  working life
  2. 2
    [countable] [usually singular] your 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.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of life
    1. a.
      [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?

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of life
    2. b.
      [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.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of life
  3. 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.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of life
  4. 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

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of life
  5. 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%.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of life
    1. a.
      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.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of life
  7. 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.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of life
  8. 8
    [uncountable] life imprisonment
    get life:

    You'd expect him to get life for such a serious crime.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of life

phrases

This is the British English definition of life. View American English definition of life.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

View the pronunciation for life.

 

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