outlive

verb

out·​live ˌau̇t-ˈliv How to pronounce outlive (audio)
outlived; outliving; outlives

transitive verb

1
: to live beyond or longer than
outlived most of his friends
outlive its usefulness
2
: to survive the effects of
universities … outlive many political and social changesJ. B. Conant

Examples of outlive in a Sentence

No mother wants to outlive her children. He outlived his wife by 10 years.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Today, the Tibetan government in exile is a vibrant democracy that will outlive this Dalai Lama. Tenzin Dorjee, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2025 Yet in other states, such Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and West Virginia, some of the nation’s shortest lifespans and lower costs of living still leave a gap, where people may outlive their savings, because incomes are also lower there. Roxana Popescu, Mercury News, 29 Aug. 2025 Americans fear outliving their money as much as any other potential retirement setback, including failing health, according to a June report from the nonprofit Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies. Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025 Advertisement The war has long outlived its cause, sustained only by the political needs of the man directing it. Yonatan Touval, Time, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for outlive

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of outlive was in the 15th century

Cite this Entry

“Outlive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outlive. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

outlive

verb
out·​live (ˈ)au̇t-ˈliv How to pronounce outlive (audio)
: to live longer than : outlast

More from Merriam-Webster on outlive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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