as in durations
the period during which something exists, lasts, or is in progress
the lifetime of the camera's batteries was so short we couldn't get through a day trip without having to replace them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of lifetimes
The sliding of scale of benefits was designed so people who took Social Security at different ages would reap roughly the same benefits over their lifetimes.
—
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
About three-quarters of the American population has not witnessed humans leaving low-Earth orbit in their lifetimes.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026
According to a 2024 study, of 204 reactors that have been closed, only 11 plants with a capacity over 100 megawatts have been fully decommissioned, and 200 more reactors will reach the end of their lifetimes in the next 20 years.
—Katherine Bourzac, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Apr. 2026
This can separate the chemical components of the tandem solar cell, reducing their overall lifetimes.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 1 Apr. 2026
Before Dali, artists were known almost exclusively for their work, and often considered lucky to be appreciated in their lifetimes.
—Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 30 Mar. 2026
Given these pressures, many families increasingly wonder whether a bachelor’s degree — which historically enabled graduates to earn $2 million more over their lifetimes than workers with only high school diplomas — is still a good investment.
—Jerry Balentine, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
Note that 25% of owners expect to see a return to the all-time low rates of 2020-21 in their lifetimes.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
Our context windows are our lifetimes; our tokens are uncountable.
—Charles Yu, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
About three-quarters of the American population has not witnessed humans leaving low-Earth orbit in their lifetimes.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 3 Apr. 2026
According to a 2024 study, of 204 reactors that have been closed, only 11 plants with a capacity over 100 megawatts have been fully decommissioned, and 200 more reactors will reach the end of their lifetimes in the next 20 years.
—Katherine Bourzac, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Apr. 2026
This can separate the chemical components of the tandem solar cell, reducing their overall lifetimes.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 1 Apr. 2026
Before Dali, artists were known almost exclusively for their work, and often considered lucky to be appreciated in their lifetimes.
—Serena Turner, Vanity Fair, 30 Mar. 2026
Given these pressures, many families increasingly wonder whether a bachelor’s degree — which historically enabled graduates to earn $2 million more over their lifetimes than workers with only high school diplomas — is still a good investment.
—Jerry Balentine, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026
Note that 25% of owners expect to see a return to the all-time low rates of 2020-21 in their lifetimes.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 11 Mar. 2026
Our context windows are our lifetimes; our tokens are uncountable.
—Charles Yu, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lifetimes
Noun
-
The mirrorless camera was used to snap bracketed exposures — where the same scene is imaged with a variety of exposure durations — while the smart telescope was tasked with capturing RAW footage of the eclipse.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Meanwhile, the system was tested across charging sessions of varying durations and with different buffer storage sizes.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
What Alkassar, who lives on South Beach, does hope to do is lure not only Miami Beach residents and tourists but locals who have in recent times proved reluctant to cross the bridges from the mainland.—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Its short half-life, however, required it to be injected several times a day, which limited its appeal as a drug, and the company ran out of funding.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lifetimes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lifetimes. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
