outlive

verb

out·​live ˌau̇t-ˈliv How to pronounce outlive (audio)
outlived; outliving; outlives
Synonyms of outlivenext

transitive verb

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

Synonyms of outlive

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Examples of outlive in a Sentence

No mother wants to outlive her children. He outlived his wife by 10 years.
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.
So even if couples married at the same age, wives are more likely to outlive their partners. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 6 July 2026 Its authors had created something that would outlive them all. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 July 2026 American retirees are likely to outlive their savings in 41 states, according to a new report. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 26 June 2026 That and the other aforementioned songs established a catalog that would far outlive the disco backlash that effectively ended the group’s initial run. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for outlive

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of outlive was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing outlive

Rhymes for outlive

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Browse Nearby Words

outline stitch
outlive
outlive one's usefulness
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Cite this Entry

“Outlive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outlive. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

outlive

verb
out·​live (ˈ)au̇t-ˈliv How to pronounce outlive (audio)
: to live longer than : outlast

More from Merriam-Webster on outlive

Nglish: Translation of outlive for Spanish Speakers

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