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.
These disputes can outlive multiple corporate and presidential administrations. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026 Such is the power of mythic literature that the creation has outlived his creator. — Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026 Jackson Pollock was more famous, but Lee Krasner outlived him by almost three decades. — Shauna Lyon, New Yorker, 14 Aug. 2026 As the report found, TV ads have not outlived their usefulness. — Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 13 Aug. 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 20 Aug. 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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