life
A1Neutral
Definition
Meaning
The condition that distinguishes animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, reproduction, functional activity, and continual change preceding death.
The existence of an individual human being or animal; the period between birth and death; a particular type or aspect of human existence; vitality or energy.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can be countable ('lives') and uncountable. The countable form often refers to the existence of individuals, while the uncountable form refers to the abstract concept or vitality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Minor spelling differences in compounds (e.g., 'lifestyle' is dominant in both, though 'life-style' was historically used). The term 'life assurance' is more common in UK, while 'life insurance' is standard in US.
Connotations
Generally identical. In some religious or philosophical contexts, nuances may vary slightly depending on cultural background.
Frequency
Equally high-frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
live a (adjective) lifelife of (noun)life as (noun/pronoun)for lifein (someone's) lifeVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A matter of life and death”
- “The time of your life”
- “A new lease of life”
- “To come to life”
- “To take your own life”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to product lifecycle, employee work-life balance, or the duration of a contract/policy.
Academic
Used in biology (study of life), philosophy (meaning of life), and history (life in a certain period).
Everyday
Refers to personal experiences, daily routines, and general well-being.
Technical
In insurance: 'life cover'; in biology: 'organic life'; in engineering: 'shelf life'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adverb
British English
- He was imprisoned for life.
American English
- They became friends for life.
adjective
British English
- She's studying life sciences at university.
American English
- He received a life sentence for the crime.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have a happy life.
- Plants need water for life.
- She told us the story of her life in the countryside.
- The accident changed his life completely.
- The documentary brought the history of ancient Rome to life.
- Finding a work-life balance is crucial for mental health.
- His philosophical writings grapple with the fundamental question of what constitutes a meaningful life.
- The artist's later works are a profound meditation on life, death, and transience.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Life is Full of Experiences. Remember the 'i' in the middle as the individual at the centre of their own life.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS A JOURNEY (e.g., 'She's at a crossroads in her life.'), LIFE IS A PRECIOUS POSSESSION (e.g., 'He risked his life.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'живот' for 'life' (it means 'stomach').
- Remember that 'life' as in 'sentence for life' is 'пожизненный срок', not just 'срок жизни'.
- The phrase 'real life' often translates as 'реальная жизнь', but in some contexts, 'в действительности' might be more natural.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect plural: 'lifes' instead of 'lives'.
- Confusing 'live' (verb) /laɪv/ with 'life' (noun) /laɪf/.
- Using 'life' as a verb (e.g., 'I life in London' instead of 'I live in London').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'life' used in an uncountable, abstract sense?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the correct plural of 'life' is always 'lives'.
'Life' /laɪf/ is a noun. 'Live' can be a verb /lɪv/ (to reside) or an adjective /laɪv/ (happening now, not recorded).
No. The verb is 'to live'. The archaic verb 'to life' (to lift) is obsolete and not used in modern English.
It means permanently or for the entire remaining duration of one's existence (e.g., a prison sentence 'for life', a friend 'for life').