1
: a line (such as a rope) used for saving or preserving life: such as
a
: a line along the outer edge of the deck of a boat or ship
b
: a line used to keep contact with a person (such as a diver or astronaut) in a dangerous or potentially dangerous situation
2
: something regarded as indispensable for the maintaining or protection of life
Examples of lifeline in a Sentence
The river is the town's lifeline.
The new jobs were an economic lifeline for a city in need of help.
The radio was their lifeline to the outside world.
They threw a lifeline to the man overboard.
Recent Examples on the Web
China has emerged as a key economic lifeline for Russia after its invasion of Ukraine as the United States and its allies cut trade and imposed sanctions to choke off the Kremlin’s war effort.
—
Nectar Gan, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024
Improving workplace morale can be a lifeline to boosting employee retention.
—Jason Leverant, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
The merger to go public with Truth Social could serve as Trump’s lifeline.
—Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 22 Mar. 2024
Our hope is that this transplant approach will offer a lifeline to millions of patients worldwide who are suffering from kidney failure.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 21 Mar. 2024
To them, the landline is a lifeline during power outages, a welcome throwback to the era before doomscrolling and push alerts, and a more comfortable, better-sounding alternative to tinny, thin smartphones.
—Michael Levenson, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024
The prospect of losing a critical lifeline to the modern economy has put ACP subscribers on edge.
—Brian Fung, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
But a deal to take his social media platform, Truth Social, and its parent company public could provide the former president and business magnate a critical lifeline and could more than double his net worth and net him more than $3 billion.
—USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024
Chinese real estate developers desperate for a government lifeline are getting the opposite—survival of the fittest.
—Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024
Nectar Gan, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024
Improving workplace morale can be a lifeline to boosting employee retention.
—Jason Leverant, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
The merger to go public with Truth Social could serve as Trump’s lifeline.
—Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo, Quartz, 22 Mar. 2024
Our hope is that this transplant approach will offer a lifeline to millions of patients worldwide who are suffering from kidney failure.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 21 Mar. 2024
To them, the landline is a lifeline during power outages, a welcome throwback to the era before doomscrolling and push alerts, and a more comfortable, better-sounding alternative to tinny, thin smartphones.
—Michael Levenson, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024
The prospect of losing a critical lifeline to the modern economy has put ACP subscribers on edge.
—Brian Fung, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
But a deal to take his social media platform, Truth Social, and its parent company public could provide the former president and business magnate a critical lifeline and could more than double his net worth and net him more than $3 billion.
—USA TODAY, 23 Mar. 2024
Chinese real estate developers desperate for a government lifeline are getting the opposite—survival of the fittest.
—Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 11 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lifeline.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near lifeline
Cite this Entry
“Lifeline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifeline. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lifeline
noun
life·line
ˈlī-ˌflīn 
1
: a line persons may hang on to for safety or rescue
2
: something providing help or support that is needed for success or survival
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