Meaning & use
constant in my life
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
A person, thing, or feeling that has been steadily present in your life over a long period.
Grammar: Often used as a noun phrase after 'a': music has been a constant in my life.
Patterns
- a constant in my life
- the one constant in my life
- be a constant in someone's life
My grandmother has been a constant in my life since I was a child.
Through all the moves and job changes, his friendship was a constant in my life.
Running became a constant in my life when everything else felt uncertain.
phrasefixed phrase
Used to describe something that happens or appears again and again in your daily experience.
Grammar: Often follows 'is/are': headaches are a constant in my life.
Patterns
- something is a constant in my life
- remain a constant in my life
Worry about money was a constant in my life for years.
The sound of traffic is a constant in my life because I live near a main road.
Common combinations
- the only constant in my life
- Her support was the only constant in my life during that difficult year.
- a constant source of
- Books have been a constant source of comfort in my life.
- remain a constant
- Even after moving abroad, his weekly call remained a constant in my life.
- a constant reminder
- The old photograph is a constant reminder of my childhood.
Synonyms and how they differ
- a steady presence
- Similar meaning, but it emphasizes being there rather than being unchanging.
- a fixture
- More informal and often used for a person or thing that is always in a place or group.
Word family
- constantly adverb
- All the time or very often.
- constancy noun
- The quality of staying the same or being loyal.
Commonly confused: constant in my life or consistent?
constant in my life vs consistent
'Constant' means happening all the time without stopping; 'consistent' means always behaving or happening in the same way.
Practice
Even after all these years, her friendship has been a ______ in my life.
Choose one answer.
'A constant' is the noun in this fixed phrase. 'Constantly' is an adverb, 'constancy' is an abstract noun that does not fit the pattern 'a ... in my life', and 'constants' is plural and cannot follow 'a'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “constant in my life”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.