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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But when disaster strikes, the difference between your organization's survival and failure may hinge on something far less tangible: the balance in your Trust Bank. David A. Naylor, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025 The odds of their survival to adulthood though are extremely slim — about 1 in 1,000. Jane Arraf, NPR, 22 Jan. 2025 The 21st edition of the Glasgow Film Festival will open on February 26 with the world premiere of John Maclean’s survival thriller Tornado, starring Tim Roth, Jack Lowden, Takehiro Hira and Kōki. Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 21 Jan. 2025 The gala world premiere of survival thriller Tornado, the sophomore feature from Scottish director John Maclean (Slow West), will open the fest on Feb. 26. Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for survival 

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 26 Jan. 2025.

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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