outlive

verb

out·​live ˌau̇t-ˈliv 

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 changes.

—J. B. Conant

Synonyms of outlive

• survive
• outlast

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

The sporty coupe and convertible lasted through 2012, long outliving its early stablemates, the Eagle Talon and Plymouth Laser. — Matt Degen, AJC.com, 23 Oct. 2026

The extensive use of cherrywood, renowned for its durable patina, speaks to Lucas’s desire to build a place that will outlive him. — Khushbu Shah, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Oct. 2026

Across most of the animal kingdom bigger animals outlive smaller ones, part of why whales tend to outlast rodents. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 17 Oct. 2026

The pattern bucks what scientists see elsewhere in the animal kingdom and helps explain why Great Danes rarely outlive golden retrievers or pugs. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing outlive

• outlive one's usefulness

Rhymes for outlive

• argive
• forgive
• ogive
• relive
• corroborative
• determinative
• germinative
• transformative
• give
• sieve
• resistive

Kids Definition

outlive

verb

out·​live (ˈ)au̇t-ˈliv 

: to live longer than : outlast