whole lifetime

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "whole lifetime" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the entirety of a person's life. For example, "He spent his whole lifetime dedicated to helping others in need."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Our whole lifetime?

The Guardian

But a whole lifetime?

The New Yorker

A whole lifetime of happenings.

The Guardian - Books

She spent a whole lifetime battling cancer.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"It turned into a whole lifetime".

The New York Times

"There's a whole lifetime of research here," he says.

University of California, Berkeley

You can pack a whole lifetime into six weeks.

The New Yorker

It takes a whole lifetime to build a reputation.

The New Yorker

So that's a whole lifetime in school for a child.

The Guardian

Some people spend a whole lifetime striving for greatness.

The Guardian - Sport

There are sixty years — a whole lifetime — between them.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "whole lifetime" to emphasize the entirety of a person's experiences, achievements, or duration of an event. For instance, "She dedicated her whole lifetime to scientific research."

Common error

Avoid using "whole lifetime" when referring to specific periods or events within a life; instead, use more precise terms like "childhood", "career", or "marriage" to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "whole lifetime" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often used as an adverbial modifier to express duration or the extent of an activity or state. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, supported by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "whole lifetime" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote the entirety of a person's life. Ludwig AI's analysis, supported by numerous examples from diverse sources like The New York Times, The Guardian and BBC, confirms its widespread acceptance. While alternatives such as "entire lifetime" or "full lifetime" exist, "whole lifetime" effectively conveys completeness and long-term duration. When writing, remember that this phrase should describe something that extends the entire duration of somebody's life, and not limited periods within. You can also refer to the above sections for usage tips, common mistakes and related phrases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

full lifetime

Emphasizes the completeness of the life span.

entire lifetime

Highlights the exhaustive nature of the life period.

complete lifetime

Stresses the finished or concluded nature of the lifespan.

whole life

A more concise and common way to express the same concept.

duration of life

Focuses on the length and temporal aspect of existence.

period of existence

A more formal way to describe the time one is alive.

one's entire existence

Shifts the focus to the state of being alive rather than the duration.

throughout one's life

Emphasizes experiences and actions that occur from birth to death.

from cradle to grave

An idiomatic phrase highlighting the entirety of life's journey.

for the rest of one's days

Focuses on the remaining portion of someone's life.

FAQs

How can I use "whole lifetime" in a sentence?

You can use "whole lifetime" to describe something that spans the entirety of a person's life, such as "He dedicated his "whole lifetime" to public service".

What phrases are similar to "whole lifetime"?

Alternatives include "entire lifetime", "full lifetime", or "whole life", depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "whole lifetime" or "entire lifetime"?

Both "whole lifetime" and "entire lifetime" are correct and largely interchangeable. The choice often depends on personal preference or stylistic considerations.

What's the difference between "whole lifetime" and "whole life"?

"Whole lifetime" emphasizes the duration and experiences across the entire lifespan, while "whole life" is a more general reference to the period from birth to death. Both are commonly used and often interchangeable.