survive
verb (used without object)
to remain alive after the death of someone, the cessation of something, or the occurrence of some event; continue to live.
had been surviving
-
past perfect progressiveof survive.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mr Knipes said he had been surviving on "five hours' kip" due to being in such high demand over the past few days.
From BBC ● Jan. 6, 2024
Even people with jobs are increasingly in need of groceries, including one person who said she had been surviving on soup for a week, Ms. Warburton added.
From New York Times ● May 5, 2022
For four years, Kelly had been surviving like a bottom-feeding fish off the carcass of the sunken Clay Helton era.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 5, 2022
IDLIB, Syria — For weeks, Ibrahim Abboud, an administrator at a hospital here, had been surviving on little sleep, consumed by worry and guilt, he said.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 2, 2021
And he had been surviving them for twenty-eight years.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
