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survive

/sərˈvaɪv/
/səˈvaɪv/
IPA guide

Other forms: survived; surviving; survives

To survive something is to live through it or endure it. You can survive a car accident, or you can survive your little brother's four-hour violin recital.

The verb survive is from the Latin word supervivere, “live beyond,” or “live longer than.” Originally to survive was used in the legal context as in “you survive your wife and therefore inherit her kingdom.” However, nowadays you might say that you were able to survive a holiday at your in-laws’, that your brother survived his first round of job interviews, or that you will never survive another all-day trip to the zoo in ninety degree heat.

Definitions of survive
  1. verb
    continue in existence after (an adversity, etc.)
    “He survived the cancer against all odds”
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    succumb
    be fatally overwhelmed
    type of:
    defeat, get the better of, overcome
    win a victory over
  2. verb
    continue to live through hardship or adversity
    “These superstitions survive in the backwaters of America”
    be, live
    have life, be alive
    exist, live, subsist
    support oneself
    see moresee less
    types:
    hold up, hold water, stand up
    resist or withstand wear, criticism, etc.
    perennate
    survive from season to season, of plants
    live out
    live out one's life; live to the end
  3. verb
    support oneself
    synonyms: exist, live, subsist
    endure, go, hold out, hold up, last, live, live on
    continue to live through hardship or adversity
    see moresee less
    types:
    breathe
    be alive
    drift, freewheel
    live unhurriedly, irresponsibly, or freely
  4. verb
    live longer than
    synonyms: outlast, outlive
Pronunciation
US
/sərˈvaɪv/
UK
/səˈvaɪv/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘survive'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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