life
/laɪf/ IELTSAcademic
noun
- 1.
the state of being alive, or the period from birth until death. It can also mean the way a person lives.
- Life is precious.
- She wants a simple life.
- His life changed after the accident.
- 2.
the activities, energy, and experience of people in the world, especially in daily living.
- City life can be busy.
- I enjoy village life.
- School life was easier then.
- 3.
a living being or living things in general.
- Scientists look for life on Mars.
- The pond has plenty of life.
- Life exists in many forms.
Adinary Nuance
Life is broader than living and more basic than existence. Use life for the whole state, experience, or period of being alive. Existence sounds more formal and abstract, while living often means the act of staying alive or the way someone lives.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- cuộc sống
- Spanish
- vida
- Chinese
- 生活
- Japanese
- 人生
- Korean
- 삶
Etymology
Old English lif meant “life” or “way of living,” from a Germanic root. It has kept its core meaning for more than a thousand years.
Common phrases
real lifedaily lifecity lifelife expectancy
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between life and living?
- **Life** is the state of being alive. **Living** often means the act of living or a way of life.
- Is life a formal word?
- No, **life** is very common in both spoken and written English.
- Can I say a life or the life?
- Use **a life** for one person's life. Use **the life** for a specific life or situation.
- How do I use life in an IELTS answer?
- Use it in phrases like **daily life**, **working life**, or **life expectancy**.