Word
Definition
n. the quality that makes people, animals, and plants different from rocks or machines. It also means the time between when you are born and when you die.
n. the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth and reproduction. Also refers to the period between birth and death or the experience of being alive.
Examples
“She wants to live a long and happy life.”
“Scientists are searching for signs of life on other planets to see if we are alone in the universe.”
“The biographer spent years researching the subject's private life to understand how personal struggles influenced his public political decisions.”
Examples
simple
“She wants to live a long and happy life.”
contextual
“Scientists are searching for signs of life on other planets to see if we are alone in the universe.”
complex
“The biographer spent years researching the subject's private life to understand how personal struggles influenced his public political decisions.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “life” in context.
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the general state of existence; countable when referring to individual experiences or specific spans of time.
Pitfall
The life is hard sometimes.
Life is hard sometimes.
When talking about life in general, do not use the definite article 'the'.
Etymology
Variant of Leaf.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
02. bread of life
04. cat and dog life
05. change of life
06. charmed life
08. come to life
09. dog's life
10. fact of life
Show all 41
11. fail at life
13. for dear life
14. get a life
16. get life
17. give life to
18. good life
19. have one's bread buttered for life
20. high life
21. kiss of life
22. life and soul of the party
24. life of its own
25. life of Riley
29. not on your life
30. prime of life
35. set for life
36. spring to life
37. staff of life
41. walk of life
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · BeginnerOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/life
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0