survive
suh-VYV
Survive (verb) means to stay alive, especially after facing danger, illness, or hardship. Example: “Only a handful of passengers survived the shipwreck.”
verb
1
To stay alive, especially after facing danger, illness, or hardship.
"Only a handful of passengers survived the shipwreck."
"She survived two rounds of chemotherapy."
"Somehow the kitten survived a cold night outside in the rain."
2
To continue to exist, especially after something might have destroyed it.
"Very few handwritten letters from that era have survived."
"The old oak tree survived the storm that flattened the rest of the wood."
"Traditions like this one have survived for centuries in the village."
3
To live longer than someone else; to outlive them.
"He was survived by his wife and three children."
"She survived her husband by many years and lived alone in the cottage."
"Most parents hope their children will survive them."
How to use survive
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make it through something dangerous or difficult and stay alive, or to still exist after time has passed.
Common mistake
In obituaries, "survived by" means the people left behind who are still living, not people who helped the person survive.
Common pairings
survive an accident
survive a crash
barely survive
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- survives
- Past tense
- survived
- Archaic forms
- survivest, survivedst, surviveth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Only a handful of passengers _____ the shipwreck.
Etymology
From Old French survivre, from Late Latin supervivere, "to outlive" — from super ("over") plus vivere ("to live"), the same root that gives us "vivid" and "vital."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for survive
See all rhymes for survive →Frequently asked questions
What does “survive” mean?
The word “survive” means to stay alive, especially after facing danger, illness, or hardship. In plain terms, to make it through something dangerous or difficult and stay alive, or to still exist after time has passed.
How do you pronounce “survive”?
“Survive” is pronounced suh-VYV (/sɚˈvaɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “survive” in a sentence?
Here is “survive” used in a sentence: “Only a handful of passengers survived the shipwreck.”
What part of speech is “survive”?
“Survive” is a verb.
Where does the word “survive” come from?
The word “survive” comes from Late Latin. From Old French survivre, from Late Latin supervivere, "to outlive" — from super ("over") plus vivere ("to live"), the same root that gives us "vivid" and "vital.".
Is “survive” a common word?
“Survive” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “survive” have?
“Survive” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to stay alive, especially after facing danger, illness, or hardship.
What is the difference between survive and thrive?
To survive is simply to stay alive or keep going through hardship, doing just enough to get by. To thrive goes further: it means to flourish, grow, and do well. Someone can survive a difficult year yet not thrive in it, which is why the two words are often contrasted.
What is the difference between survive and live?
Live simply means to be alive or to spend one's life in some way. Survive adds the idea of coming through danger, illness, or hardship and remaining alive despite it. You live every day, but you survive an accident, an ordeal, or a serious illness that could have ended your life.
What is the opposite of survive?
The clearest opposites are to die, perish, or succumb, since survival means staying alive through danger. In wider use, survive can also mean lasting or enduring, so its opposite might be to fail, collapse, or fade away, as when a business does not survive a difficult period.
What is an example of survive in a sentence?
You might say, "Only two passengers survived the crash," or "The family struggled to survive the harsh winter." The word can also describe things lasting over time, as in "Few of the original buildings survive today," showing that survival applies to endurance as well as to staying alive.
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