survive

verb

sur·​vive sər-ˈvīv 

survived; surviving

intransitive verb

1

: to remain alive or in existence : live on

2

: to continue to function or prosper

transitive verb

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

survivor

sər-ˈvī-vər 

noun

Synonyms of survive

• endure
• live
• withstand
• make it (through)
• be
• weather
• ride (out)

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

The mayor also asked New Yorkers to keep the surviving victim in their thoughts and wish them a full recovery. — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026

Nara Prison is one of Japan’s famed Five Great Prisons of the Meiji era, symbols of the dawn of a new modern age for the nation, and the only one to survive today. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026

Knight was wounded but survived the attack, while Shakur was struck multiple times and died six days later at age 25. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 1 Sep. 2026

The tester isn’t just improvising mayhem; a safety standard details the tests a product must pass, and a UL mark is shorthand for surviving. — Alison J. Stein, HubSpot, 1 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, to outlive, from Anglo-French survivre, from Latin supervivere, from super- + vivere to live — more at quick entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for survive

• alive
• archive
• arrive
• beehive
• connive
• contrive
• deprive
• derive
• khedive
• revive
• dive
• drive

Kids Definition

survive

verb

sur·​vive sər-ˈvīv 

survived; surviving

1

: to remain alive : continue to exist

2

: to remain alive after the death of

survived by three children

3

: to continue to exist or live after

survived the flood

survivor

-ˈvī-vər 

noun

Medical Definition

survive

verb

sur·​vive sər-ˈvīv 

survived; surviving

intransitive verb

: to remain alive or in existence : live on

transitive verb

1

: to remain alive after the death of

his son survived him

2

: to continue to exist or live after

survived the stroke

survival

-ˈvī-vəl 

noun

survivor

-ˈvī-vər 

noun