survival

noun

sur·​viv·​al sər-ˈvī-vəl How to pronounce survival (audio)
often attributive
1
a
: the act or fact of living or continuing longer than another person or thing
b
: the continuation of life or existence
problems of survival in arctic conditions
2
: one that survives

Examples of survival in a Sentence

The refugees depend on foreign aid for their survival. Small businesses are fighting for survival. the survival of an old folktale
Recent Examples on the Web The new language hotspots today are in cities that are migrant hubs such as Jakarta, Lagos, London, New York, and Paris, where peoples from all over increasingly cluster for work, education, access to services, a chance for survival, and a taste of modern life. Ross Perlin, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024 Justice Amy Coney Barrett worried about where to draw the line, wondering aloud whether the Eighth Amendment could reasonably be invoked to prohibit punishment for hungry people who steal food or engage in other behaviors necessary for survival. Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for survival 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'survival.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of survival was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near survival

Cite this Entry

“Survival.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/survival. Accessed 3 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

survival

noun
sur·​viv·​al sər-ˈvī-vəl How to pronounce survival (audio)
1
: the act or fact of living or continuing longer than another person or thing
survival of half the population after the epidemic
2
: a continuation of life despite difficult conditions
skills for survival in the desert
3
: one that survives
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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