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
But Hawke then referenced director Padraic McKinley’s historical drama, set in 1930s Oregon and about gold rush greed and survival.
—
Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
This authoritarian apparatus has relied on mass killings to ensure its survival while ignoring the basic and inalienable rights of citizens—including the fundamental right to seek change in the political system.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 17 Feb. 2026
His survival didn't just happen; it was engineered by the quick thinking of his colleagues and the very tools the American Heart Association fights to make accessible to everyone.
—Karen Borta, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
Dependent on wetlands for survival, the snail kite has become a measure of the Everglades’ health.
—Sofia Baltodano, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for survival
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Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
This authoritarian apparatus has relied on mass killings to ensure its survival while ignoring the basic and inalienable rights of citizens—including the fundamental right to seek change in the political system.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 17 Feb. 2026
His survival didn't just happen; it was engineered by the quick thinking of his colleagues and the very tools the American Heart Association fights to make accessible to everyone.
—Karen Borta, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
Dependent on wetlands for survival, the snail kite has become a measure of the Everglades’ health.
—Sofia Baltodano, Miami Herald, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for survival
Cite this Entry
“Survival.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/survival. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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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