life
/laɪf/ (bre, ipa) · /laɪf/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈlīf/ (ame, mw)
life — noun
- lifesingular
- livesplural
1. the time that starts when a person is born and ends when they die, including eve
the time that starts when a person is born and ends when they die, including everything they feel, do, and experience during that time
Hoa has lived in Ho Chi Minh City for most of her life.
The documentary follows the life of a nurse working in a small mountain village.
life of + [person/role] for biographical span
Sumin's greatest joy in life is teaching young children how to read.
Piotr spent his whole life studying the migration routes of Arctic birds.
Arjun has lived a long and full life, visiting over fifty different countries.
- death
the end of life
文法句型
life of + [person]
[determiner] + life
in life
2. lasting until a person dies; describing a commitment, membership, penalty, or re
lasting until a person dies; describing a commitment, membership, penalty, or relationship that continues without end during a person's existence
The judge sent the thief to prison for life.
for life meaning permanently
Aaron became a life member of the wildlife society after donating.
life member / life membership
Salma has known Tunde since primary school and considers him a friend for life.
The rescue centre gave each abandoned dog a home for life.
- temporary
lasting only for a limited time
文法句型
for life
life + [noun]
[noun] + for life
用法筆記
This sense occurs in a small set of fixed expressions: 'for life', 'life member', 'life sentence', 'life imprisonment', 'friend for life'. It is not used as a general adjective (do not say *'a life decision').
常見錯誤
3. the act of dying willingly so that another person or an important cause can be s
the act of dying willingly so that another person or an important cause can be saved or protected
The firefighter gave his life to rescue the family trapped in the burning house.
give one's life to [rescue/save/protect]
Many soldiers have laid down their lives for their country.
Élise's grandfather risked his life to help refugees cross the border during the war.
The soldier gave his life to protect three wounded comrades during the ambush.
文法句型
give one's life for + [person/cause]
lay down one's life for + [person/cause]
risk one's life
用法筆記
This sense appears in set expressions: 'give your life', 'lay down your life', 'risk your life'. The subject is a person acting to protect someone or something. 'Devote your life to' has a similar structure but usually implies dedication over time rather than a single act of dying.
常見錯誤
4. the belief that the conscious part of a person carries on beyond physical death,
the belief that the conscious part of a person carries on beyond physical death, whether as a spirit, a soul, or in some other state
Many cultures have their own stories about what happens in the life after death.
life after death
Hari does not believe in any form of life after death.
The old painting shows the artist's vision of life after death as a beautiful garden with golden light.
Discussions about life after death appear in nearly every major religious tradition around the world.
- afterlife
the most common synonym; can include heaven, hell, or reincarnation depending on the religion
- the hereafter
more formal and literary; less common in everyday conversation
- immortality
focuses on living forever, not necessarily after physical death
- oblivion
the state of being completely forgotten or ceasing to exist
文法句型
life after death
life beyond death
belief in life after death
用法筆記
This sense almost always appears in the fixed phrase 'life after death'. It is uncountable and rarely used with an article (*'a life after death'). The phrase can be modified: 'belief in life after death', 'the idea of life after death'.
5. the particular set of activities, habits, relationships, and experiences that ma
the particular set of activities, habits, relationships, and experiences that make up a person's daily existence, or a specific area of it such as work, family, or social time
Moving to the countryside completely changed Gabriela's life.
Anthony enjoys a simple life with few possessions and lots of travel.
a simple life / a busy life / a peaceful life
The book gives useful advice on how to balance your work life and family life.
City life can be exciting, but apartment rents there are much higher too.
Tunde leads a quiet life in a small fishing village on the coast of Lagos.
- lifestyle
focuses on chosen habits and values (diet, exercise, spending), not the whole of daily experience
- way of life
more formal; often refers to cultural or traditional patterns, not just one person's habits
- daily routine
narrower; only the regular repeated activities, not the emotional or social experiences
文法句型
[adjective] + life
[noun] + life
life in + [place]
用法筆記
This sense combines freely with adjectives (a quiet life, a busy life, a happy life, a stressful life) and nouns acting as modifiers (work life, family life, school life, married life, city life, country life). It is the sense most often used when describing everyday routines and circumstances.
常見錯誤
6. a completely different way of living that someone begins after a major change, s
a completely different way of living that someone begins after a major change, such as moving to a new place, leaving a difficult relationship, or recovering from serious problems
After losing her job, Hoa decided to start a new life in Da Nang.
start a new life
The programme helps refugee families build a new life in Canada.
build a new life
Eli left his hometown to make a new life for himself as a street musician.
Starting a new life after a divorce is never easy, but counselling groups can offer real support.
- fresh start
less dramatic than 'new life'; can be used for smaller changes like a new job or a new school
- rebirth
stronger, more poetic; suggests a complete transformation of identity
- second chance
focuses on the opportunity to improve after a failure or mistake
文法句型
start a new life
make a new life for + [reflexive]
build a new life
用法筆記
Used in verb phrases: 'start a new life', 'make a new life', 'build a new life'. These imply leaving behind a difficult or unsatisfactory situation. The new life is usually in a different place or involves a changed identity. 'A new life' can also be used to describe a baby being born, but that is a separate literal sense.
常見錯誤
7. the length of time during which a machine, a product, or an organization continu
the length of time during which a machine, a product, or an organization continues to work or remain useful
The battery life of this laptop is about eight hours.
collocation: battery life
With regular maintenance, the life of a car engine can reach twenty years.
The company extended the life of its old server by replacing the hard drive.
The average life of a commercial aeroplane is around twenty-five years.
Gita checked the shelf life of the yoghurt before buying it.
- lifespan
more formal; often used for products or living things
- duration
broader term; not limited to operational usefulness
- service life
technical term used in engineering and manufacturing
常見錯誤
8. the set of characteristics that separate living creatures from non-living matter
the set of characteristics that separate living creatures from non-living matter and dead things — for example, the ability to grow, breathe, and reproduce
The astronauts searched for signs of life on Mars.
collocation: sign of life
Aoi gently touched the bird to check whether it showed any signs of life.
Scientists are still trying to understand how life began on Earth.
The pond was full of life — fish, tadpoles, and dragonflies everywhere.
After the forest fire, there was almost no life left in the burned area.
- death
the end of life
用法筆記
Often found in fixed phrases like 'signs of life', 'the origins of life', and 'full of life'. When used this way, 'life' refers to the general state of being alive, not a specific individual's existence.
常見錯誤
9. the natural energy and lively spirit that exists within a person, making them fe
the natural energy and lively spirit that exists within a person, making them feel enthusiastic and actively engaged in what they do
Eleni is always full of life — she can dance for hours without stopping.
collocation: full of life (energetic person)
The festival brought life to the quiet old town for three days.
pattern: bring life to [place/event]
Roya's bright paintings are full of life and colour.
The children put so much life into their school performance that everyone clapped.
- energy
more general; physical or mental power to act
- vitality
slightly more formal; suggests robust health and energy
- liveliness
focuses on activity and movement rather than inner energy
- dullness
lack of interest or excitement
用法筆記
Subject is typically a person, performance, event, or work of art. Not used for objects or machines — for that, use sense 7 (operating period).
常見錯誤
10. the quality of being made more interesting, vivid, or realistic — used in the ph
the quality of being made more interesting, vivid, or realistic — used in the phrases 'bring to life' and 'give life to', meaning to make something feel real or exciting
The actors brought the ancient story to life on stage.
pattern: bring + [story/character] + to life
Christopher's colourful descriptions gave life to the boring report.
pattern: give life to [something]
A good teacher can bring history to life for young students.
The director's clever camera work brought the city itself to life in the film.
文法句型
bring + object + to life
give life to + object
用法筆記
Always used within the fixed phrases 'bring (something) to life' or 'give life to (something)'. The subject is the agent that makes the object more interesting or real. Not used alone as a standalone noun.
常見錯誤
11. the moment when a machine starts to function or a living thing begins to exist o
the moment when a machine starts to function or a living thing begins to exist or grow — used in the phrase 'come to life'
The new robot came to life when Eli pressed the start button for the first time.
pattern: come to life (machine starting)
The seeds came to life as soon as they received water and sunlight.
Takeshi pressed the main power button and the factory's new assembly line came to life.
The emergency generator came to life automatically after the mains power cut off.
文法句型
subject + come to life
用法筆記
This sense describes something starting to function or be alive for the first time. For something that stops and then starts working again, use 'come back to life' (see sense 13).
常見錯誤
12. the moment when a situation, event, or activity becomes more interesting, lively
the moment when a situation, event, or activity becomes more interesting, lively, or full of energy — used in the phrase 'come to life'
The party came to life when the band started playing.
pattern: come to life (event becoming lively)
The market comes to life on weekends with street food and live music.
Antonia's face came to life when she talked about her travels.
The quiet little town comes to life during the annual film festival.
- liven up
more informal; 'the party livened up when the music started'
- brighten up
suggests mood improvement rather than general excitement
文法句型
subject + come to life
用法筆記
Describes a place, event, or person becoming exciting or active. Distinguish from sense 11, which is about machines starting to function or living things starting to exist — this sense is about energy and liveliness, not mechanical or biological functioning.
常見錯誤
13. The state of being alive, growing, or functioning again after a period of being
The state of being alive, growing, or functioning again after a period of being dead, dried out, or broken down.
After winter, the garden came back to life with bright flowers and fresh green leaves.
collocation: come back to life
Camille's old phone sprang back to life after she let it charge all night.
collocation: spring back to life
The town square came back to life when musicians filled the air with festival songs.
Tunde brought the dying plant back to life by watering it every morning.
- revival
a more formal noun for the event of being restored; e.g. 'economic revival'
- death
the permanent end of life; the opposite of being alive
文法句型
come back to life
bring [something] back to life
spring back to life
return to life
用法筆記
Commonly appears in fixed expressions such as 'come back to life', 'bring something back to life', and 'spring back to life'. The word 'life' in these phrases cannot be replaced with 'live' (the verb).
常見錯誤
14. the quality that a place, event, or situation gains when it becomes lively and e
the quality that a place, event, or situation gains when it becomes lively and exciting again after being quiet, dull, or inactive
The quiet dinner party came to life when Esteban told funny stories about his travels.
pattern: quiet [place/event] + came to life when…
The boring meeting came to life when Estelle asked everyone to share their ideas.
The sleepy fishing village comes to life each summer when the tourists arrive for the festival.
The empty classroom came to life when Maja hung colourful student artwork across every wall.
- dullness
the state of being boring or lacking interest
文法句型
full of life
bring [something] to life
come to life
add life to [something]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 13: sense 14 refers to excitement and energy, while sense 13 refers to literal functioning or growing again. Often found in the phrases 'full of life', 'bring something to life', and 'add life to something'.
常見錯誤
15. All plants, animals, and other living organisms considered together as a group,
All plants, animals, and other living organisms considered together as a group, especially those of a particular type or in a particular place.
The scientist spent years studying marine life in the deep waters near Japan.
collocation: marine life
Desert life has learned to survive with very little water and extreme heat.
collocation: desert life / plant life
The rainforest is home to a rich variety of plant and animal life.
Apinya was amazed by the colourful sea life while snorkelling off the coast of Thailand.
- living organisms
more scientific; includes all forms including microbes
- wildlife
narrower; refers only to wild animals and plants, not all living things
- biota
very formal scientific term for all living species in an area
文法句型
[adjective] life
life in [environment]
用法筆記
Uncountable and always singular. Usually preceded by a modifier that specifies the environment or type, such as 'plant life', 'marine life', 'bird life', or 'wildlife'. Cannot be made plural in this sense.
常見錯誤
16. The artistic technique of creating a picture using a real person or object that
The artistic technique of creating a picture using a real person or object that you can see directly, not from a photo or what you remember.
The art students spent the afternoon drawing the human figure from life.
phrase: draw from life
Caleb prefers to paint landscapes from life rather than using photographs.
phrase: paint from life
In her life drawing class, Yael learned to capture the model's pose on paper.
The museum offers workshops where beginners can sketch sculptures from life.
- from imagination
creating art using memory or creativity rather than a real subject
- from a photograph
using a photo as reference instead of a live subject
文法句型
draw/paint from life
work from life
sketch from life
用法筆記
Always appears in the fixed phrase 'from life' following a verb related to visual art. Do not add an article before 'life' in this expression — 'from the life' is incorrect in standard English.
常見錯誤
17. A legal sentence requiring a person to stay in prison either until they die or f
A legal sentence requiring a person to stay in prison either until they die or for an extremely long duration, sometimes with a chance of early release.
The judge sentenced the man to life in prison for his role in the crime.
collocation: life in prison
Cyrus's grandfather was given a life sentence and spent thirty years behind bars.
collocation: life sentence
After the trial, the victim's family said that life in prison was a fair punishment.
Some countries allow prisoners serving life sentences to ask for early release.
- life imprisonment
the formal legal term for this punishment
- life in prison
less formal, commonly used in news reports
文法句型
life sentence
life in prison
serve life
get life
用法筆記
Often shortened to just 'life' in informal news reporting, as in 'He got life for the murder.' The formal legal term is 'life imprisonment'.
常見錯誤
18. A countable chance in a video or board game that lets a player keep playing; onc
A countable chance in a video or board game that lets a player keep playing; once all these chances are used up, the game ends for that player.
The player's character lost all three lives and had to restart the entire level.
phrase: lose all [one's] lives
Eli collected a secret coin that gave him an extra life in the video game.
phrase: extra life
Each player starts the board game with three lives printed on their card.
Ziad's character had only one life left, so he played through the level very carefully.
- extra life
refers specifically to a bonus chance added beyond the starting number
- continue
in arcade-style games; a 'continue' lets you keep playing after losing all lives
- game over
the state when all lives have been lost and the game ends
文法句型
[number] lives
lose a life
extra life
all [one's] lives
用法筆記
Most common in the context of video games and board games. Can be used with 'extra' for a bonus chance ('extra life') or counted ('three lives', 'lose a life'). Not used for sports or real-life competition.
常見錯誤
19. A book that records the actual events of a particular person's whole life, writt
A book that records the actual events of a particular person's whole life, written by another author rather than by the person who lived it.
Constanza is reading a life of the famous Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.
a life of + [famous person] — shows prepositional pattern
After the politician retired, a journalist began writing her life.
The local library added three new lives of Asian leaders to its collection.
Hari's life of the composer took seven years to complete.
Many readers consider this life of Gandhi the best one ever written.
- autobiography
a life story written by the person themselves, not by another author
文法句型
a life of [person]
lives of [group]
用法筆記
Countable noun. The person whose life is described follows 'of' (a life of Churchill). A possessive noun before 'life' usually names the author, not the subject of the biography.
常見錯誤
life — adjective
- lifepositive
- lifercomparative
- lifestsuperlative
1. placed before a noun to describe a right, position, or penalty that continues or
placed before a noun to describe a right, position, or penalty that continues or is valid until a person dies.
After forty years of service, the club made Dewi a life member of the board.
attributive modifier: life member
For the serious crime, the judge gave the man a life sentence.
common legal collocation: life sentence
A life membership at the museum meant Wei did not have to buy tickets yearly.
Christopher's father was granted a life pension after working at the factory for thirty years.
Three of the university's most respected professors received life fellowships for their research.
- temporary
lasting only for a limited time, not for the rest of a person's life.
文法句型
life + noun
用法筆記
Only used before a noun. Common in legal contexts ('life sentence,' 'life imprisonment') and organizational contexts ('life member,' 'life fellowship'). Do not use after a linking verb.
常見錯誤
2. placed before a noun to refer to a type of insurance that pays a fixed sum of mo
placed before a noun to refer to a type of insurance that pays a fixed sum of money to a person's family when that person dies.
Tomás called his insurance agent to ask about adding life cover to his policy.
attributive modifier: life cover
The life insurance company paid the claim after Anjali sent them the documents.
common compound: life insurance company
Élise compared several life policies before choosing the one with the lowest cost.
To protect their home loan, the couple took out a joint life policy.
A life broker can help a young family find the best plan for their needs.
文法句型
life + noun (insurance terms)
用法筆記
Always used before a noun. The most common compound is 'life insurance'; other common terms include 'life policy,' 'life cover,' and 'life broker.'