intelligent life

noun

: beings that can learn and understand things
looking for signs of intelligent life on other planets

Examples of intelligent life in a Sentence

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.
The evolution of intelligent life around red dwarf stars is likely to be an uphill slog, due to the demands needed to jumpstart oxygenic photosynthesis. Bruce Dorminey, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025 Still, what kind of intelligent life form wouldn’t want to see a sunrise on another world? Matthew Hutson, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2025 So for humanity, this will not be within our near future, but for other intelligent life, this could be a possibility. Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 2 Sep. 2025 But thought experiments about the lives of aliens can also tell us something about potential trajectories for intelligent life on Earth. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for intelligent life

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Intelligent life.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/intelligent%20life. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!