survived; surviving
1
: to remain alive or in existence : live on
2
: to continue to function or prosper
1
: to remain alive after the death of
he is survived by his wife
2
: to continue to exist or live after
survived the earthquake
3
: to continue to function or prosper despite : withstand
they survived many hardships
Examples of survive in a Sentence
I don't see how any creature can survive under those conditions.
bacteria that survive in extreme temperatures
Only a few written records survive from those times.
These ancient practices still survive in some regions.
Some of the original bridges survive.
Many businesses are struggling to survive in today's economy.
Only his son survived him.
She survived her husband by only a few years.
He survived a political scandal and was elected to the state legislature.
The company survived the recession.
Recent Examples on the Web
One of a few surviving mid-19th-century farmhouses in the region, it’s listed on the Greenwich Landmarks Registry as the Elkanah Mead House.
—
Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 29 Sep. 2025
Taxonomists are instead working to preserve a planetary memory—an archive of life—and to decode which traits help creatures adapt, migrate, or otherwise survive in a rapidly changing climate.
—Marion Renault, The Atlantic, 29 Sep. 2025
More than 500 Israeli soldiers have survived serious injuries fighting in Gaza, according to the military.
—Daniel Estrin, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025
But neither of Burnett’s parents would survive to see her career success.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for survive
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Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 29 Sep. 2025
Taxonomists are instead working to preserve a planetary memory—an archive of life—and to decode which traits help creatures adapt, migrate, or otherwise survive in a rapidly changing climate.
—Marion Renault, The Atlantic, 29 Sep. 2025
More than 500 Israeli soldiers have survived serious injuries fighting in Gaza, according to the military.
—Daniel Estrin, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025
But neither of Burnett’s parents would survive to see her career success.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for survive
Cite this Entry
“Survive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/survive. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Medical Definition
survive
verb
sur·vive
sər-ˈvīv 
survived; surviving
: to remain alive or in existence : live on
1
: to remain alive after the death of
his son survived him
2
: to continue to exist or live after
survived the stroke
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