Explanation at your level:
To survive means to stay alive. If you are in danger and you do not die, you survive. You can survive a cold day or a long trip. It is a word for being strong.
When something bad happens, like a big storm, people try to survive. It means they keep living. We also say a business can survive if it does not close down during hard times.
To survive means to continue to function or exist after a difficult situation. You might say, 'I can't survive on this little money,' or 'The plants didn't survive the winter.' It is about endurance.
The term survive implies overcoming adversity. It is frequently used in professional contexts, such as 'The company must innovate to survive in this market.' It carries a nuance of resilience and adaptation.
In advanced English, survive often carries a metaphorical weight. It describes the persistence of cultural traditions, ideologies, or institutions despite the passage of time or systemic pressure. It suggests a triumph over historical or environmental entropy.
At the mastery level, survive functions as a testament to the human condition. It encompasses not just biological persistence but the psychological fortitude required to navigate existential threats. It is a cornerstone of narratives regarding legacy and the endurance of the human spirit through epochs of change.
Word in 30 Seconds
- To live through danger.
- Used for people and things.
- Rooted in Latin.
- Often used with 'on'.
When we talk about surviving, we are usually talking about resilience. At its core, it means to stay alive when something bad happens, like a storm or an illness. It is a powerful word that highlights strength and the will to keep going.
Beyond just staying alive, we use this word for businesses or ideas. If a company survives a recession, it means it didn't go bankrupt. It is all about endurance and making it to the other side of a challenge.
The word survive comes from the Old French word survivre, which traces back to the Latin supervivere. This is a combination of super (meaning 'over' or 'beyond') and vivere (meaning 'to live').
Essentially, it literally means to live beyond or after something else. It entered English in the 15th century and has kept its core meaning of outliving or outlasting ever since. It is fascinating how a word from ancient Rome still perfectly describes our modern struggles today.
You will often hear survive used in contexts involving danger or extreme stress. It is a very common verb in news reports, adventure stories, and even business meetings.
Common collocations include survive a crash, survive a disaster, or survive the winter. It is used in both formal academic writing and casual conversation, making it a highly versatile tool for your vocabulary.
- Survival of the fittest: The process where only the strongest survive.
- Barely survive: To make it through something with almost no resources left.
- Survive the night: To last until morning during a crisis.
- Survive on a shoestring: To live with very little money.
- Fight to survive: To put in a huge effort to keep going.
Survive is a regular verb. Its past tense is survived, and its present participle is surviving. It is often used with the preposition on (e.g., survive on bread and water).
Pronunciation: UK /səˈvaɪv/, US /sərˈvaɪv/. The stress is on the second syllable. Rhyming words include arrive, dive, alive, strive, and hive.
Fun Fact
It combines 'super' and 'vivere'.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'sir-vibe'
Sounds like 'sur-vibe'
Common Errors
- Mispronouncing the 'v'
- Stressing the first syllable
- Adding an extra sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
moderate
moderate
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Verb Tenses
survived/surviving
Preposition usage
survive on
Infinitive patterns
struggle to survive
Examples by Level
The cat will survive.
cat will live
future tense
I want to survive.
I want to live
infinitive
Can we survive?
can we stay alive?
question form
They survive the cold.
they live in cold
present simple
Did he survive?
is he alive?
past question
Plants need water to survive.
water helps life
infinitive purpose
We will survive this.
we will be okay
future
It is hard to survive.
tough to live
adjective + infinitive
The dog survived the accident.
Can you survive without a phone?
Many trees did not survive the fire.
We survive on very little food.
He survived the long winter.
She survived the sickness.
The old building survived the storm.
I hope you survive the test.
The company survived the economic crisis.
He survived by eating berries.
Some traditions survive for centuries.
She survived the ordeal with courage.
How do these animals survive in the desert?
The patient survived the surgery.
I don't think this laptop will survive another drop.
They struggled to survive in the wilderness.
The species survived due to its adaptation.
He survived the scandal with his reputation intact.
The manuscript survived the fire.
We must survive the current market volatility.
She survived on nothing but hope.
The structure survived the earthquake.
Few people survive such extreme conditions.
The memory of him will survive for generations.
The ancient language survived the cultural assimilation.
He survived the political purge.
The business model survived the transition to digital.
She survived the trauma through art.
The institution survived despite the lack of funding.
Only the most resilient ideas survive.
The painting survived the war.
He survived the ordeal to tell the tale.
The legacy of the empire survived its collapse.
The myth survived through oral tradition.
She survived the existential crisis of her youth.
The species survived the extinction event.
His influence survived his death.
The architecture survived the centuries of neglect.
The core values survived the corporate merger.
The spirit of the movement survived the suppression.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"survival of the fittest"
only the strongest survive
In business, it is survival of the fittest.
neutral"survive by the skin of one's teeth"
to barely make it
He survived by the skin of his teeth.
casual"not survive the day"
to die or fail quickly
The plan will not survive the day.
casual"survive the ordeal"
to get through a bad event
She finally survived the ordeal.
neutral"fight for survival"
to struggle to stay alive
The company is fighting for survival.
neutral"survive on a prayer"
to have very little
They survived on a prayer.
casualEasily Confused
both mean to be alive
Live is general; survive is about overcoming danger.
I live here vs I survived the flood.
both mean to last
Endure focuses on the difficulty of the process.
I endured the pain.
both mean to continue
Persist is about not stopping.
The rain persisted.
both involve life
Sustain means to support.
Food sustains life.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + survive + noun
He survived the crash.
Subject + survive + on + noun
They survive on water.
Subject + struggle + to + survive
They struggle to survive.
Subject + barely + survive
He barely survived.
Subject + survive + prepositional phrase
It survived in the cold.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Do not use 'to' after survive.
Usually used directly with the object.
This is correct, but don't mix up the noun and verb.
Avoid unnecessary prepositions.
Use 'on' for sustenance.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a survivor standing on a cliff.
Native Speakers
Use it when talking about overcoming odds.
Cultural Insight
Often linked to 'survival' shows.
Grammar Shortcut
No 'to' after survive.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'v' sound.
Mistake to Avoid
Don't say 'survive to'.
Did You Know?
It is from Latin super-vivere.
Study Smart
Use it in sentences about your day.
Business Context
Used to describe staying profitable.
Verb Patterns
Often followed by a noun.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
SUR (sure) + VIVE (life) = Sure to live.
Visual Association
A person standing on a mountain after a storm.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about surviving a hard day.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: To live beyond
Cultural Context
Can be sensitive when discussing death.
Used often in reality TV like 'Survivor'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Disaster
- survived the flood
- survived the fire
- miraculously survived
Business
- survive the market
- survive the recession
- survive competition
Daily life
- survive the week
- survive on coffee
- survive the day
Nature
- survive in the wild
- survive the winter
- survive the climate
Conversation Starters
"How do you survive a busy week?"
"Have you ever survived a dangerous situation?"
"Do you think humans will survive another 1000 years?"
"What is the hardest thing you have survived?"
"Can a business survive without change?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you felt you barely survived a deadline.
Describe a character who has to survive in the wilderness.
Why is the word survive important to you?
How do you think traditions survive?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it works for animals, businesses, and ideas.
No, it is incorrect.
Survival.
Yes.
To live using only a specific resource.
It is neutral but often used in tough contexts.
Yes, after a disaster.
Sir-vibe.
Test Yourself
The plant will ___ if you give it water.
It needs water to live.
What does survive mean?
It means to continue living.
Can you survive on only water for a year?
You need food to survive.
Word
Meaning
Matching meanings.
We will survive the storm.
The business struggled to ___ the recession.
Businesses survive crises.
Which is a synonym for survive?
Endure means to last.
Traditions can survive.
Ideas and traditions persist.
The legacy ___ the founder's death.
Legacy persists after death.
What is the root of survive?
It comes from Latin.
Score: /10
Summary
Survive is the act of enduring through challenge to continue existing.
- To live through danger.
- Used for people and things.
- Rooted in Latin.
- Often used with 'on'.
Memory Palace
Imagine a survivor standing on a cliff.
Native Speakers
Use it when talking about overcoming odds.
Cultural Insight
Often linked to 'survival' shows.
Grammar Shortcut
No 'to' after survive.
Example
I don't know how they survive in such a small apartment with three large dogs.
Related Content
See it in Videos
5:34
Dragons BUT With Subtitles
"I don't know how they survive in such a small apartment with three large dogs."
4:54
This is the most common way to get head lice - Nazzy Pakpour
12:39
How this war could become China’s proxy
"I don't know how they survive in such a small apartment with three large dogs."
Learn it in Context
This Word in Other Languages
More Actions words
abcredance
C1To formally grant credibility or validate the authenticity of a claim, process, or document based on rigorous evidence. It involves the transition of a statement or entity from a state of uncertainty to one of accepted institutional or logical fact.
abnasccide
C1Describing something that is characterized by a natural tendency to shed, detach, or be cut off at a specific stage of development or under certain conditions. It is most commonly used in botanical or technical contexts to describe parts that are designed to separate from the main body.
absorb
B2To take in or soak up energy, liquid, or other substances by chemical or physical action; also used metaphorically to mean taking in and understanding information or grasping the full attention of someone.
abstain
C1To voluntarily refrain from an action or practice, especially one that is considered unhealthy or morally questionable. It is also used formally to describe the act of choosing not to cast a vote in an election or deliberation.
abvictly
C1To decisively and abruptly resolve a complex situation or dispute by exercising overwhelming force or authority. It describes the act of bringing an immediate, non-negotiable end to a conflict, often bypassing traditional steps of negotiation.
abvitfy
C1The inherent capacity or latent potential within a system or individual to adapt quickly and effectively to unforeseen technological or structural changes. It describes a sophisticated form of resilience that allows for an immediate pivot and evolution without a loss of core function.
accelerate
C1To increase the speed or rate of something, or to make a process happen sooner than expected. In technical contexts, it refers to the rate of change of velocity, while in general contexts, it often describes the speeding up of progress or development.
accept
A1To agree to receive something that someone offers you, or to say yes to an invitation or a suggestion. It can also mean to believe that something is true or to recognize a situation as it is.
achieve
A2To successfully reach a goal or finish a task using your effort and skills. It describes the act of completing something positive after working hard for it.
acquiesce
C1To accept something reluctantly but without protest. It describes a situation where someone agrees to a demand or proposal, often because they feel they have no other choice or do not wish to argue.
