Outlive: meaning, definitions and examples

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outlive

 

[ aʊtˈlɪv ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

survival period

To outlive means to live longer than another person or thing. It implies a comparison of lifespans and suggests that one entity has survived beyond the duration of another. This term is often used in contexts involving mortality and can also refer to enduring or persisting beyond a certain time limit. Outliving can refer to both physical life and the longevity of ideas or trends.

Synonyms

last, live longer, outlast, survive

Examples of usage

  • She outlived her siblings by many years.
  • The ancient oak tree has outlived many generations of humans.
  • New technologies often outlive their predecessors.
  • They hope to outlive the current economic downturn.

Translations

Translations of the word "outlive" in other languages:

🇵🇹 sobreviver

🇮🇳 जीवित रहना

🇩🇪 überleben

🇮🇩 bertahan hidup

🇺🇦 пережити

🇵🇱 przeżyć

🇯🇵 生き延びる

🇫🇷 survivre

🇪🇸 sobrevivir

🇹🇷 hayatta kalmak

🇰🇷 생존하다

🇸🇦 يعيش أكثر من

🇨🇿 přežít

🇸🇰 prežiť

🇨🇳 幸存

🇸🇮 preživeti

🇮🇸 lifandi af

🇰🇿 тірі қалу

🇬🇪 გადარჩენა

🇦🇿 yaşamaq

🇲🇽 sobrevivir

Etymology

The word 'outlive' originates from the Old English term 'ūtlifan', which means 'to live longer than'. It is formed from the prefix 'out-' meaning 'beyond' or 'more than', combined with 'live', derived from the Proto-Germanic root '*libam', meaning 'to be alive'. Over centuries, the term evolved in usage from its Old English roots to its current form, reflecting various cultural attitudes toward life, death, and the endurance of both people and ideas. In literature and common speech, 'outlive' has been used to express not just a physical survival, but also the survival of memories, traditions, or values that extend beyond an individual's life span.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #24,980, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.