lifetime /ˈlaɪf.taɪm/noun 2forms 1phrases 1 noun2 •all the time from someone's birth to their death, or from the start to the end of somethinga project that will take many human lifetimes to complete •(informal) A long period of time.I've been waiting a lifetime for a train. formslifetimes Phrases with lifetime legend in one's own lifetimeOne who achieves great fame while alive.