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 film, which follows a mysterious stranger who provides hope for survival to the denizens on a distant moon amid threats by the armies of a tyrannical ruling force, is the first in a two-part saga. Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 For their long-term survival, both broadcast and cable news have the cash cow of live sports. Julie Hinds, Detroit Free Press, 4 Mar. 2024 Outcomes of high-risk kidneys (graft and patient survival) should be tracked separately from the outcomes of standard risk kidneys, and not be used to penalize programs in the way they are currently utilized, but rather influence inclusion in the high-risk program. Joshua Mezrich, STAT, 2 Mar. 2024 In navigating the evolving landscape of regulatory reforms, intensifying competition and escalating pricing pressures, health plans stand at a pivotal juncture where the accuracy and currency of provider data emerge as central tenets for their survival. Tammy Hawes, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 For Édouard Louis, revisiting the past is an act of survival. Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 29 Feb. 2024 And specialist insects that depend on one plant species for their survival tend to pay the price when things go out of sync. Tovah Martin, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2024 It was focused on sharing personal stories of survival and ensuring that victims are not forgotten, the JCC's Chief Innovation Officer Jonah Geller said at the start of the event. Claudia Levens, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024 Because our nervous system is still primarily wired for our survival, and anything that doesn’t comply with our expectations is seen as an initial threat. Hylke Faber, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024

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 19 Mar. 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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