Survive — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /sər-ˈvīv/ sur·vive

Meaning & Definition of Survive

Survive (verb)

  1. to remain alive or in existence, live on
  2. to continue to function or prosper
  3. to remain alive after the death of

Survive (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to come safely through

    "the cat miraculously survived a two-story fall"

    similar: ride (out), weather, make it (through)
    related: outlast, outlive, wear out, pull through, abide, continue, endure, hang on, hold on, hold out, hold up, last, lead, persist, stand, stick out, withstand, be, breathe, exist, live, subsist, flourish, prosper, thrive
    near: croak (slang), decease, depart, die, expire, pass (on), pass away, perish, succumb, disappear, evaporate, fade, vanish, cease, end, stop

  2. to continue to operate or to meet one's needs

    "some old-world customs still survive in modern-day America"

    similar: hold out, hold up, keep up, last, prevail
    related: bear up, carry on, cope, endure, fare, get along, get by, get on, go, hang in, make out, manage, persevere, abide, continue, draw out, hang on, hold on, linger, persist, remain, run on, stretch
    opposite: fail, fizzle, give out, go out, peter (out), run out
    near: break, break down, collapse, conk (out), crash, cut out, die, expire, stall, stop, run down, wane

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Survive

The most common words with a similar meaning to Survive:

ride (out), weather, hold out, hold up, keep up, last, prevail, make it (through)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Survive

Words with the opposite meaning of Survive:

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

Related Words for Survive

outlast, outlive, wear out, pull through, abide, continue, endure, hang on, hold on, lead, persist, stand, stick out, withstand, be, breathe, exist, live, subsist, flourish, prosper, thrive, bear up, carry on, cope, fare, get along, get by, get on, go

Near Antonyms of Survive

croak, decease, depart, die, expire, pass (on), pass away, perish, succumb, disappear, evaporate, fade, vanish, cease, end, stop, break, break down, collapse, conk (out), crash, cut out, stall, run down, wane

Word Forms of Survive

Inflections: survived, surviving

Derived words: survivor (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Survive

Middle English, to outlive, from Anglo-French survivre, from Latin supervivere, from super- + vivere to live quick:1

First known use: 15th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Survive

Frequently Asked Questions about Survive

What does "Survive" mean?

"Survive" means to remain alive or in existence, live on. As a verb, it is defined as: to remain alive or in existence, live on. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Survive"?

Other words for "Survive" include ride (out), weather, hold out, hold up, keep up, last, prevail and make it (through). The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Survive" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Survive"?

There are 47 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Survive". Common alternatives include ride (out), weather, hold out, hold up, keep up, last, prevail and make it (through).

What is the opposite of "Survive"?

Antonyms of "Survive" include fail, fizzle, give out, go out, peter (out) and run out. Near antonyms include croak, decease, depart and die.

How do you use "Survive" in a sentence?

Examples of "Survive" in a sentence: "the cat miraculously survived a two-story fall"; "some old-world customs still survive in modern-day America".

Is "Survive" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Survive" is a verb.

Is "Survive" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B1-level word, "Survive" is typical of Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET), IELTS band 4.0–5.0, TOEFL iBT 42–71, PTE Academic 43–58, TOEIC Listening & Reading 550+. It is on the Academic Word List, so it appears often in IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, and university texts.

How do you pronounce "Survive"?

"Survive" is pronounced /sər-ˈvīv/ and divided into syllables as sur·vive.