What does survive mean?
Survive means to remain alive after a dangerous event, such as an accident, illness, conflict, or disaster. It is also used figuratively when something continues to exist despite threats or when a person copes successfully with hardship. For example, a business may survive a recession, while a tradition may survive generations of social change. The word often suggests endurance and persistence rather than complete comfort or success: something that survives may emerge from a difficult experience changed or damaged. In informal usage, “survive on” can describe getting by with very little, as in “She survived on coffee and deadlines.” Survive can also mean to outlive a person or period, as in “The building survived its original architect.” Overall, the verb is useful for describing persistence, resilience, and existence after danger.
verbTo continue to live after an event or situation that might have caused death or destruction. It can also mean to remain in existence or succeed despite difficulties.
- Continue to live after a dangerous or fatal event
- Remain in existence despite a threat or challenge
- Cope successfully with a difficult experience
- Outlive someone or something
"The small tree survived the storm and began to grow again in the spring."
"Only two passengers survived the crash."
"This old manuscript has survived centuries of changing hands."
Survive comes from the Latin supervivere, literally “to live over” or “to outlive,” combining the prefix super- with the root for “live.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does survive come from?
The English word comes from Latin supervivere, formed from super-, meaning “over” or “beyond,” and vivere, meaning “to live.” In Latin, the word originally developed the sense of outliving or remaining alive after another person. English borrowed it in the early medieval period, with the sense of remaining alive after danger or destruction. It later broadened to mean remaining in existence, especially after a threatening event.
Related word forms
How survive is actually used
Survive is commonly used for both literal survival and figurative persistence. In figurative contexts, it often implies overcoming a serious danger or difficulty. The expression “survive on” is frequently followed by a limited resource, especially money, food, or income.