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
But the legacy of his tenure and cost-cutting measures is a side that is fighting for survival and in urgent need of help.
—
Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
After receiving extra water for an 11-year stretch and then losing it, the trees were producing new, tiny leaves that invested mostly in their own survival.
—Alana Chin, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2025
Since keeping bears away from human food and garbage is the best way to ensure their survival and safety, the bears at the center are doing a great service to ensure that bears in the wild avoid unnecessary bear-human encounters.
—Wendy Altschuler, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Hope for his survival grew when trash and hiking poles thought to belong to him were found by a river on New Year’s Eve, followed by a campfire, a lighter, a camera and a camera bag on Sunday.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for survival 
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Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 10 Jan. 2025
After receiving extra water for an 11-year stretch and then losing it, the trees were producing new, tiny leaves that invested mostly in their own survival.
—Alana Chin, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2025
Since keeping bears away from human food and garbage is the best way to ensure their survival and safety, the bears at the center are doing a great service to ensure that bears in the wild avoid unnecessary bear-human encounters.
—Wendy Altschuler, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
Hope for his survival grew when trash and hiking poles thought to belong to him were found by a river on New Year’s Eve, followed by a campfire, a lighter, a camera and a camera bag on Sunday.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for survival
Dictionary Entries Near survival
Cite this Entry
“Survival.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/survival. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
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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