survival
noun
sur·viv·al
sər-ˈvī-vəl 
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
In fact, having double the chromosomes can ultimately impact a species' survival, leading to its extinction.
—
Ari Daniel, NPR, 19 May 2026
Some parents choose survival swim lessons, which teach young children how to roll onto their backs, float and reach the pool’s edge.
—Laura Berrios, AJC.com, 19 May 2026
Set against the margins of Mumbai, the film follows four migrants – a gay husband, his wife working in a bar, a thief, and a pimp – whose lives converge around love, survival, and longing.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 May 2026
Tobacco’s market survival depends on adolescence as the spark and addiction as the fuel.
—Katharine Silbaugh, STAT, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for survival
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Ari Daniel, NPR, 19 May 2026
Some parents choose survival swim lessons, which teach young children how to roll onto their backs, float and reach the pool’s edge.
—Laura Berrios, AJC.com, 19 May 2026
Set against the margins of Mumbai, the film follows four migrants – a gay husband, his wife working in a bar, a thief, and a pimp – whose lives converge around love, survival, and longing.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 May 2026
Tobacco’s market survival depends on adolescence as the spark and addiction as the fuel.
—Katharine Silbaugh, STAT, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for survival
Cite this Entry
“Survival.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/survival. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
survival
noun
sur·viv·al
sər-ˈvī-vəl
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
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