outlive
verb
out·live
ˌau̇t-ˈliv 
outlived; outliving; outlives
1
: to live beyond or longer than
outlived most of his friends
outlive its usefulness
2
: to survive the effects of
Universities … outlive many political and social changes.—
J. B. Conant
J. B. ConantExamples of outlive in a Sentence
No mother wants to outlive her children.
He outlived his wife by 10 years.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hadi’s exceptional attention gives cinematic identity to collective artisanal energy, to the life force of care and devotion that stands outside the agonies of politics, to the spirit that endures a regime and outlives it.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
My book belongs to ongoing discussions that live in and outlive literary dilemmas.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
Album covers were designed to outlive charts.
—Sudhir Gupta, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2026
At 91, Frank had outlived many of the people closest to him.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
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Richard Brody, New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2026
My book belongs to ongoing discussions that live in and outlive literary dilemmas.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
Album covers were designed to outlive charts.
—Sudhir Gupta, Rolling Stone, 4 Feb. 2026
At 91, Frank had outlived many of the people closest to him.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for outlive
Cite this Entry
“Outlive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outlive. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
outlive
verb
out·live
(ˈ)au̇t-ˈliv
: to live longer than : outlast
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