survive verb - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com

Definition of survive verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

survive

verb
 
/səˈvaɪv/
 
/sərˈvaɪv/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they survive
 
/səˈvaɪv/
 
/sərˈvaɪv/
he / she / it survives
 
/səˈvaɪvz/
 
/sərˈvaɪvz/
past simple survived
 
/səˈvaɪvd/
 
/sərˈvaɪvd/
past participle survived
 
/səˈvaɪvd/
 
/sərˈvaɪvd/
-ing form surviving
 
/səˈvaɪvɪŋ/
 
/sərˈvaɪvɪŋ/
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  1. [intransitive] to continue to live or exist
    • She was the last surviving member of the family.
    • Of the six people injured in the crash, only two survived.
    • Many of these teachers are struggling to survive financially.
    • He must betray his friend in order to survive.
    • The children had to survive by begging and stealing.
    • (humorous) ‘How are you these days?’ ‘Oh, surviving.’
    • Don't worry, it's only a scratch—you'll survive.
    • survive from something Some strange customs have survived from earlier times.
    • survive on something I can't survive on £40 a week (= it is not enough for my basic needs).
    • They spent two months in the jungle, surviving on small animals and fruit.
    • survive as something He survived as party leader until his second election defeat.
    Extra Examples
    • Only one copy of the book still survives.
    • Companies need to keep to deadlines if they are to survive and thrive.
    • Four of their five chickens survived to adulthood.
    • Nobody can survive long without water.
    • Once diagnosed with lung cancer, a patient is lucky to survive for five years.
    • Seedlings survive better in stony soil.
    • She cannot hope to survive long in power.
    • She survived through two world wars.
    • The frescoes have survived remarkably well.
    • The islanders could barely survive without an export crop.
    • The original apple tree survived until 1911.
    • Very little has survived from this period of history.
    • I can just about survive on what I earn.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • well
    • barely
    • hardly
    verb + survive
    • struggle to
    • be able to
    • can
    preposition
    • as
    • from
    • into
    phrases
    • the only surviving…
    • the sole surviving…
    • survive and prosper
    See full entry
  2. [transitive] to continue to live or exist despite a dangerous event or time
    • survive something Her 5-year-old son miraculously survived the crash.
    • He only survived the attack because he was wearing body armour.
    • Many birds didn't survive the severe winter.
    • The company managed to survive the crisis.
    • survive something + adj. Few buildings survived the war intact.
    Extra Examples
    • A young boy miraculously survived a 25 000-volt electric shock.
    • The prime minister narrowly survived a leadership challenge.
    • Doctors did not expect him to survive the night.
    • He narrowly survived several assassination attempts.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • well
    • barely
    • hardly
    verb + survive
    • struggle to
    • be able to
    • can
    preposition
    • as
    • from
    • into
    phrases
    • the only surviving…
    • the sole surviving…
    • survive and prosper
    See full entry
  3. [transitive] survive somebody/something to live or exist longer than somebody/something synonym outlive
    • She survived her husband by ten years.
    • He is survived by his wife and two sons (= he has just died but they are still alive).
  4. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French sourvivre, from Latin supervivere, from super- ‘in addition’ + vivere ‘live’.
See survive in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee survive in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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