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outlive

verb out·live \ ˌau̇t-ˈliv \
|Updated on: 7 Jun 2018

Definition of outlive

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 changes
  • —J. B. Conant

See outlive defined for English-language learners

See outlive defined for kids

Examples of outlive in a Sentence

  1. No mother wants to outlive her children.

  2. He outlived his wife by 10 years.

Recent Examples of outlive from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'outlive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of outlive

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year
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outlive Synonyms

Synonyms

outlast, outwear;

Related Words

survive;

outstay;

abide (beyond), endure (past), hold (past), hold out (past), last (beyond), persist (beyond);

draw out, perpetuate;

succeed;

Phrases Related to OUTLIVE

Related Phrases

OUTLIVE Defined for English Language Learners

outlive

verb

Definition of outlive for English Language Learners

  • : to live longer than (someone)

  • : to continue to exist longer than (something) : to outlast (something)

OUTLIVE Defined for Kids

outlive

verb out·live \ au̇t-ˈliv \

Definition of outlive for Students

outlived; outliving
: to live or last longer than
  • That rule has outlived its usefulness.

Learn More about outlive

  1. See words that rhyme with outlive Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for outlive Spanish Central: Translation of outlive Nglish: Translation of outlive for Spanish speakers

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