lifelong

adjective

life·​long ˈlīf-ˌlȯŋ How to pronounce lifelong (audio)
Synonyms of lifelongnext
1
: lasting or continuing through life
a lifelong friendship
2
: long-standing

Examples of lifelong in a Sentence

He had a lifelong love of nature.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
One of those veterans of the Centennial State’s wildlife wars is Dan Gates, a lifelong trapper and executive director of Coloradans for Responsible Wildlife Management. — Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026 The woman has a lifelong right to anonymity — Deadline refers to her as Complainant 1 (C1) — though she is being named in the court proceedings. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026 For Beccaria, an execution’s fleeting spectacle deterred less effectively than lifelong penal servitude. — Maurizio Valsania, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026 In some individuals, exposure to alpha-gal can lead to a lifelong allergic response. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 14 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lifelong

Word History

First Known Use

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of lifelong was in 1613

Rhymes for lifelong

See All Rhymes for lifelong

Browse Nearby Words

life list
lifelong
lifeman
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Cite this Entry

“Lifelong.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifelong. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

lifelong

adjective
life·​long ˈlī-ˌflȯŋ How to pronounce lifelong (audio)
: continuing or lasting through life
a lifelong love for trees
a lifelong friendship

More from Merriam-Webster on lifelong

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