Survive | Definition of survive by Merriam-Webster

Full Definition of SURVIVE

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>

— sur·vi·vor \-ˈvī-vər\ noun

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Origin of SURVIVE

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

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to SURVIVE

Synonyms: ride (out), weather, make it (through)

Antonyms: fail, fizzle, give out, go out, peter (out), run out

Rhymes with SURVIVE

alive, archive, Argive, arrive, back dive, beehive, connive, contrive, crash-dive, deprive, derive, disk drive, endive, hard drive, high five, high-five, line drive, nosedive, ogive, revive, self-drive, skin-dive, skydive, swan dive, take five, test-drive

Definition of SURVIVE for Kids

1

: to remain alive : continue to exist <No creature can survive without water.> <The tradition survives to this day.>

2

: to live or exist longer than or past the end of <The house survived the flood.>

— sur·vi·vor \sər-ˈvī-vər\ noun

Word Root of SURVIVE

The Latin word vivere, meaning “to live,” gives us the root viv. Words from the Latin vivere have something to do with living. To survive is to remain alive. To revive is to bring back to life. Someone vivacious is full of life and is lively and energetic. Something, such as a story, that is vivid appears to be full of life and freshness.