survival
noun
sur·viv·al
sər-ˈvī-vəl 
often attributive
1
a
: the act or fact of living or continuing longer than another person or thing
b
: the continuation of life or existence
problems of survival in arctic conditions
2
: one that survives
Examples of survival in a Sentence
The refugees depend on foreign aid for their survival.
Small businesses are fighting for survival.
the survival of an old folktale
Recent Examples on the Web
The new language hotspots today are in cities that are migrant hubs such as Jakarta, Lagos, London, New York, and Paris, where peoples from all over increasingly cluster for work, education, access to services, a chance for survival, and a taste of modern life.
—
Ross Perlin, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
Justice Amy Coney Barrett worried about where to draw the line, wondering aloud whether the Eighth Amendment could reasonably be invoked to prohibit punishment for hungry people who steal food or engage in other behaviors necessary for survival.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2024
Nymphs especially rely on sap from tree roots for survival when buried underground.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 22 Apr. 2024
Many mental-health issues are now masked by the ongoing atrocities, by the ongoing traumatic conditions and by people basically being in survival mode.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2024
Set against the backdrop of a juvenile correctional facility by the sea, the series explores themes of survival, sexuality and family, as Álvaro and his peers cope with confinement.
—Callum McLennan, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024
That moment sustains the legacy of ethnic survival, the standards and benefits that one generation passes to the next.
—Armond White, National Review, 17 Apr. 2024
Neese’s new book, which stemmed from working with many women in her practice that were constantly in stress and survival mode, aims to help others learn how to prioritize rest, and also to see the value in it.
—Fiorella Valdesolo, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2024
As someone who has lived through the reality that the kids and young adults in his organization face every day, Hollins believes that many children are programmed for survival.
—J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
Ross Perlin, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
Justice Amy Coney Barrett worried about where to draw the line, wondering aloud whether the Eighth Amendment could reasonably be invoked to prohibit punishment for hungry people who steal food or engage in other behaviors necessary for survival.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2024
Nymphs especially rely on sap from tree roots for survival when buried underground.
—Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 22 Apr. 2024
Many mental-health issues are now masked by the ongoing atrocities, by the ongoing traumatic conditions and by people basically being in survival mode.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2024
Set against the backdrop of a juvenile correctional facility by the sea, the series explores themes of survival, sexuality and family, as Álvaro and his peers cope with confinement.
—Callum McLennan, Variety, 19 Apr. 2024
That moment sustains the legacy of ethnic survival, the standards and benefits that one generation passes to the next.
—Armond White, National Review, 17 Apr. 2024
Neese’s new book, which stemmed from working with many women in her practice that were constantly in stress and survival mode, aims to help others learn how to prioritize rest, and also to see the value in it.
—Fiorella Valdesolo, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2024
As someone who has lived through the reality that the kids and young adults in his organization face every day, Hollins believes that many children are programmed for survival.
—J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 16 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'survival.' 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 survival
Cite this Entry
“Survival.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/survival. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
survival
noun
sur·viv·al
sər-ˈvī-vəl
1
: the act or fact of living or continuing longer than another person or thing
survival of half the population after the epidemic
2
: a continuation of life despite difficult conditions
skills for survival in the desert
3
: one that survives
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