- 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. 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. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbwell, barely, hardly, … verb + survivestruggle to, be able to, can, … prepositionas, from, into, … phrasesthe 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 The company managed to survive the crisis. Many birds didn't survive the severe winter. survive something + adj. Few buildings survived the war intact. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adverbwell, barely, hardly, … verb + survivestruggle to, be able to, can, … prepositionas, from, into, … phrasesthe 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. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French sourvivre, from Latin supervivere, from super- ‘in addition’ + vivere ‘live’.Extra examples A young boy miraculously survived a 25 000-volt electric shock. Companies need to keep to deadlines if they are to survive and thrive. Doctors did not expect him to survive the night. Four of their five chickens survived to adulthood. He narrowly survived several assassination attempts. I can just about survive on what I earn. Lung cancer patients are lucky to survive for five years. Many of these teachers are struggling to survive financially. Nobody can survive long without water. Once diagnosed with lung cancer, a patient is lucky to survive for five years. Only one copy of the book still survives. 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. The prime minister narrowly survived a leadership challenge. They survived on roots and berries. Very few of the children survived into adult life. Very little has survived from this period of history. Will she survive as party leader? poor people struggling to survive the only surviving member of her family I can’t survive on £40 a week. Many birds didn’t survive the severe winter.
verb jump to other results
BrE BrE//səˈvaɪv//; NAmE NAmE//sərˈvaɪv//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they survive BrE BrE//səˈvaɪv//; NAmE NAmE//sərˈvaɪv//
he / she / it survives BrE BrE//səˈvaɪvz//; NAmE NAmE//sərˈvaɪvz//
past simple survived BrE BrE//səˈvaɪvd//; NAmE NAmE//sərˈvaɪvd//
past participle survived BrE BrE//səˈvaɪvd//; NAmE NAmE//sərˈvaɪvd//
-ing form surviving BrE BrE//səˈvaɪvɪŋ//; NAmE NAmE//sərˈvaɪvɪŋ//
Check pronunciation: survive
