verb · 10 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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UK:/səˈvaɪv/
UK:/səˈvʌɪv/
US:/sɚˈvaɪv/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -aɪv
CMU ARPABET:S ER0 V AY1 V
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
Of a person, to continue to live; to remain alive.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
Whether by a miracle or by good luck, all twenty passengers survived.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
Of an object or concept, to continue to exist.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
This town has been hit by two hurricanes, but it survives.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To live past (a life-threatening event)
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
Whether by a miracle or by good luck, all twenty passengers survived the crash.
He did not survive the accident.
This house has survived two hurricanes.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: overlive
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To live longer than (someone); to outlive (someone or something); to outlast (something).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
his children survived him; he was survived by his children
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: overlive
Antonyms: predecease
5
verb
Meaning 5
To be a victim of nonfatal but substantial harm and nonetheless to display the strength to heal; especially, after a crime or an illness, especially sexual or physical abuse or assault, cancer, or a natural disaster.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
I just know you'll get through this, because that's what survivors like you do: they not only survive but thrive.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
Of a team, to avoid relegation or demotion to a lower division or league.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports
Examples
They narrowly survived, but the heat is on.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
support oneself
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he could barely exist on such a low wage
Can you live on $2000 a month in New York City?
Many people in the world have to subsist on $1 a day
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: exist, live, subsist
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: breathe, freewheel, drift
8
verb
Meaning 8
continue to live through hardship or adversity
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
We went without water and food for 3 days
These superstitions survive in the backwaters of America
The race car driver lived through several very serious accidents
how long can a person last without food and water?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: last, live, live on, go, endure, hold up, hold out
Antonyms: none provided
Narrower terms: stand up, hold up, hold water, perennate, live out
9
verb
Meaning 9
live longer than
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
She outlived her husband by many years
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: outlive, outlast
Antonyms: none provided
10
verb
Meaning 10
continue in existence after (an adversity, etc.)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
He survived the cancer against all odds
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: pull through, pull round, come through, make it
Antonyms: succumb
Broader terms: get the better of, overcome, defeat
History
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman survivre, Old French survivre, from Late Latin supervīvere (“to outlive”), from Latin super (“over”) + vivere (“to live”), akin to vita (“life”). See vivid. Compare devive, revive.
Across languages
Translations
225 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Afrikaans:
oorleef
— person: continue to live
Albanian:
mbijeto
— person: continue to live
Arabic:
نَجَا
(najā)
— person: continue to live
Armenian:
ողջ մնալ
(oġǰ mnal)
— person: continue to live
Armenian:
կենդանի մնալ
(kendani mnal)
— person: continue to live
Armenian:
ապրել
(aprel)
— person: continue to live
Armenian:
փրկվել
(pʻrkvel)
— person: continue to live
Asturian:
sobrevivir
— person: continue to live
Azerbaijani:
sağ çıxmaq
— person: continue to live
Azerbaijani:
sağ qalmaq
— person: continue to live
Belarusian:
перажыва́ць
(pjeražyvácʹ)
— person: continue to live
Belarusian:
перажы́ць
(pjeražýcʹ)
— person: continue to live
Bulgarian:
преживя́вам
(preživjávam)
— person: continue to live
Bulgarian:
преживе́я
(preživéja)
— person: continue to live
Bulgarian:
оцеля́вам
(oceljávam)
— person: continue to live
Bulgarian:
оцеле́я
(oceléja)
— person: continue to live
Catalan:
sobreviure
— person: continue to live
Chinese Mandarin:
生存
(shēngcún)
— person: continue to live
Chinese Mandarin:
存活
(cúnhuó)
— person: continue to live
Czech:
přežívat
— person: continue to live
Czech:
přežít
— person: continue to live
Danish:
overleve
— person: continue to live
Dutch:
overleven
— person: continue to live
Esperanto:
postvivi
— person: continue to live
Esperanto:
supervivi
— person: continue to live
Esperanto:
transvivi
— person: continue to live
Estonian:
ellu jääma
— person: continue to live
Faroese:
yvirliva
— person: continue to live
Finnish:
selviytyä
— person: continue to live
Finnish:
jäädä henkiin
— person: continue to live
Finnish:
jäädä eloon
— person: continue to live
French:
survivre
— person: continue to live
North Frisian:
auerlewe
— person: continue to live
Galician:
sobrevivir
— person: continue to live
Georgian:
სიკვდილს გადარჩენა
(siḳvdils gadarčena)
— person: continue to live
Georgian:
გადარჩენა
(gadarčena)
— person: continue to live
German:
überleben
— person: continue to live
Greek:
επιβιώνω
(epivióno)
— person: continue to live
Ancient Greek:
διαζῶ
(diazô)
— person: continue to live
Ancient Greek:
περιλείπομαι
(perileípomai)
— person: continue to live
Higaonon:
naluwas
— person: continue to live
Hungarian:
életben marad
— person: continue to live
Indonesian:
sintas
— person: continue to live
Indonesian:
menyintas
— person: continue to live
Indonesian:
bertahan hidup
— person: continue to live
Interlingua:
superviver
— person: continue to live
Irish:
tar
— person: continue to live
Irish:
tar slán
— person: continue to live
Italian:
sopravvivere
— person: continue to live
Japanese:
生き残る
(ikinokoru)
— person: continue to live
Japanese:
生き抜く
(ikinuku)
— person: continue to live
Japanese:
残存する
(seizon suru)
— person: continue to live
Korean:
생존하다
(saengjonhada)
— person: continue to live
Korean:
살아남다
(saranamda)
— person: continue to live
Ladino:
sovrebivir
— person: continue to live
Latin:
supersum
— person: continue to live
Latin:
vivo
— person: continue to live
Latin:
reliquus sum
— person: continue to live
Latin:
vitam supero
— person: continue to live
Latin:
superstitem sum
— person: continue to live
Latin:
supersto
— person: continue to live
Luxembourgish:
iwwerliewen
— person: continue to live
Macedonian:
преживува
(preživuva)
— person: continue to live
Macedonian:
преживее
(preživee)
— person: continue to live
Norwegian:
overleve
— person: continue to live
Norwegian Bokmål:
overleve
— person: continue to live
Occitan:
subreviure
— person: continue to live
Old English:
alibban
— person: continue to live
Old English:
aspedan
— person: continue to live
Old English:
gedigan
— person: continue to live
Old English:
nesan
— person: continue to live
Old English:
oferlibban
— person: continue to live
Old English:
belæfan
— person: continue to live
Polish:
przeżywać
— person: continue to live
Polish:
przeżyć
— person: continue to live
Polish:
przetrwać
— person: continue to live
Portuguese:
sobreviver
— person: continue to live
Romanian:
supraviețui
— person: continue to live
Russian:
выжива́ть
(vyživátʹ)
— person: continue to live
Russian:
вы́жить
(výžitʹ)
— person: continue to live
Russian:
пережива́ть
(pereživátʹ)
— person: continue to live
Russian:
пережи́ть
(perežítʹ)
— person: continue to live
Russian:
остава́ться в живы́х
(ostavátʹsja v živýx)
— person: continue to live
Russian:
оста́ться в живы́х
(ostátʹsja v živýx)
— person: continue to live
Russian:
уцелева́ть
(ucelevátʹ)
— person: continue to live
Russian:
уцеле́ть
(ucelétʹ)
— person: continue to live
Serbo-Croatian:
преживља́вати
— person: continue to live
Serbo-Croatian:
прежи́вети
— person: continue to live
Serbo-Croatian:
прежи́вјети
— person: continue to live
Serbo-Croatian:
preživljávati
— person: continue to live
Serbo-Croatian:
prežíveti
— person: continue to live
Serbo-Croatian:
prežívjeti
— person: continue to live
Slovak:
prežívať
— person: continue to live
Slovak:
prežiť
— person: continue to live
Slovene:
preživẹ́ti
— person: continue to live
Spanish:
sobrevivir
— person: continue to live
Spanish:
pervivir
— person: continue to live
Spanish:
supervivir
— person: continue to live
Swedish:
överleva
— person: continue to live
Tamil:
பிழை
(piḻai)
— person: continue to live
Turkish:
hayatta kalmak
— person: continue to live
Ukrainian:
пережива́ти
(perežyváty)
— person: continue to live
Ukrainian:
пережи́ти
(perežýty)
— person: continue to live
Ukrainian:
вижива́ти
(vyžyváty)
— person: continue to live
Ukrainian:
ви́жити
(výžyty)
— person: continue to live
Ukrainian:
вцілі́ти
(vcilíty)
— person: continue to live
Vietnamese:
sống sót
— person: continue to live
Yiddish:
איבערלעבן
(iberlebn)
— person: continue to live
Zazaki:
weş menden
— person: continue to live
Afrikaans:
oorleef
— object, concept: continue to exist
Arabic:
نَجَا
(najā)
— object, concept: continue to exist
Armenian:
գոյատեւել
(goyatewel)
— object, concept: continue to exist
Catalan:
sobreviure
— object, concept: continue to exist
Chinese Mandarin:
殘存 /残存
(cáncún)
— object, concept: continue to exist
Dutch:
overleven
— object, concept: continue to exist
Finnish:
selvitä
— object, concept: continue to exist
Finnish:
selviytyä
— object, concept: continue to exist
Finnish:
jäädä henkiin
— object, concept: continue to exist
Finnish:
jäädä eloon
— object, concept: continue to exist
Galician:
sobrevivir
— object, concept: continue to exist
German:
überleben
— object, concept: continue to exist
Greek:
επιβιώνω
(epivióno)
— object, concept: continue to exist
Ancient Greek:
δῐᾰμένω
(dĭăménō)
— object, concept: continue to exist
Hebrew:
שרד
(sarád)
— object, concept: continue to exist
Hungarian:
tovább él
— object, concept: continue to exist
Hungarian:
fennmarad
— object, concept: continue to exist
Hungarian:
megmarad
— object, concept: continue to exist
Indonesian:
bertahan
— object, concept: continue to exist
Latin:
supersto
— object, concept: continue to exist
Latin:
supersum
— object, concept: continue to exist
Latin:
supestitem sum
— object, concept: continue to exist
Latin:
vitam supero
— object, concept: continue to exist
Latin:
reliquus sum
— object, concept: continue to exist
Latin:
vivo
— object, concept: continue to exist
Luxembourgish:
iwwerliewen
— object, concept: continue to exist
Norwegian:
overleve
— object, concept: continue to exist
Polish:
przeżywać
— object, concept: continue to exist
Polish:
przeżyć
— object, concept: continue to exist
Portuguese:
sobreviver
— object, concept: continue to exist
Romanian:
supraviețui
— object, concept: continue to exist
Russian:
выжива́ть
(vyživátʹ)
— object, concept: continue to exist
Russian:
вы́жить
(výžitʹ)
— object, concept: continue to exist
Russian:
пережива́ть
(pereživátʹ)
— object, concept: continue to exist
Russian:
пережи́ть
(perežítʹ)
— object, concept: continue to exist
Serbo-Croatian:
опстати
— object, concept: continue to exist
Serbo-Croatian:
opstati
— object, concept: continue to exist
Slovene:
preživeti
— object, concept: continue to exist
Slovene:
obstati
— object, concept: continue to exist
Spanish:
sobrevivir
— object, concept: continue to exist
Spanish:
pervivir
— object, concept: continue to exist
Spanish:
supervivir
— object, concept: continue to exist
Tamil:
தொடர்
(toṭar)
— object, concept: continue to exist
Ukrainian:
вижива́ти
(vyžyváty)
— object, concept: continue to exist
Ukrainian:
ви́жити
(výžyty)
— object, concept: continue to exist
Yiddish:
איבערלעבן
(iberlebn)
— object, concept: continue to exist
Afrikaans:
oorleef
— live longer than
Asturian:
sobrevivir
— live longer than
Bulgarian:
надживявам
(nadživjavam)
— live longer than
Catalan:
sobreviure
— live longer than
Dutch:
overleven
— live longer than
Esperanto:
postvivi
— live longer than
Finnish:
elää pitempään
— live longer than
Finnish:
elää kauemmin
— live longer than
Galician:
sobrevivir
— live longer than
German:
überleben
— live longer than
Ancient Greek:
διαζῶ
(diazô)
— live longer than
Hungarian:
túlél
— live longer than
Italian:
durare
— live longer than
Latin:
vivo
— live longer than
Latin:
vitam supero
— live longer than
Latin:
supersto
— live longer than
Latin:
supersum
— live longer than
Latin:
superstitem sum
— live longer than
Latin:
reliquus sum
— live longer than
Luxembourgish:
iwwerliewen
— live longer than
Norwegian:
overleve
— live longer than
Norwegian:
leve lenger enn
— live longer than
Polish:
przeżyć
— live longer than
Portuguese:
sobreviver
— live longer than
Romanian:
supraviețui
— live longer than
Russian:
пережива́ть
(pereživátʹ)
— live longer than
Russian:
пережи́ть
(perežítʹ)
— live longer than
Spanish:
sobrevivir
— live longer than
Spanish:
supervivir
— live longer than
Swedish:
överleva
— live longer than
Yiddish:
איבערלעבן
(iberlebn)
— live longer than
Afrikaans:
oorleef
— live past a life-threatening event
Arabic:
نَجَا
(najā)
— live past a life-threatening event
Asturian:
sobrevivir
— live past a life-threatening event
Azerbaijani:
sağ qalmaq
— live past a life-threatening event
Azerbaijani:
sağ çıxmaq
— live past a life-threatening event
Bulgarian:
преживявам
(preživjavam)
— live past a life-threatening event
Catalan:
sobreviure
— live past a life-threatening event
Chinese Mandarin:
活下來 /活下来
(huóxiàlái)
— live past a life-threatening event
Chinese Mandarin:
幸存
(xìngcún)
— live past a life-threatening event
Chinese Mandarin:
生還 /生还
(shēnghuán)
— live past a life-threatening event
Dutch:
overleven
— live past a life-threatening event
Esperanto:
travivi
— live past a life-threatening event
Finnish:
selviytyä
— live past a life-threatening event
Finnish:
jäädä henkiin
— live past a life-threatening event
Finnish:
jäädä eloon
— live past a life-threatening event
Galician:
sobrevivir
— live past a life-threatening event
Greek:
επιζώ
(epizó)
— live past a life-threatening event
Greek:
γλιτώνω
(glitóno)
— live past a life-threatening event
Ancient Greek:
ἐπιζάω
(epizáō)
— live past a life-threatening event
Hebrew:
שרד
(sarád)
— live past a life-threatening event
Hungarian:
túlél
— live past a life-threatening event
Italian:
perdurare
— live past a life-threatening event
Latin:
supersum
— live past a life-threatening event
Latin:
vivo
— live past a life-threatening event
Latin:
supersto
— live past a life-threatening event
Latin:
superstitem sum
— live past a life-threatening event
Latin:
vitam supero
— live past a life-threatening event
Latin:
reliquus sum
— live past a life-threatening event
Luxembourgish:
iwwerliewen
— live past a life-threatening event
Polish:
przeżyć
— live past a life-threatening event
Portuguese:
sobreviver
— live past a life-threatening event
Romanian:
supraviețui
— live past a life-threatening event
Russian:
пережива́ть
(pereživátʹ)
— live past a life-threatening event
Russian:
пережи́ть
(perežítʹ)
— live past a life-threatening event
Spanish:
sobrevivir
— live past a life-threatening event
Spanish:
pervivir
— live past a life-threatening event
Spanish:
supervivir
— live past a life-threatening event
Tamil:
பிழை
(piḻai)
— live past a life-threatening event
Zazaki:
nêmerden
— live past a life-threatening event
