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 survived
-
past perfectof survive.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
Sah, speaking on video broadcast on Nepali media shortly after his rescue, said he had survived by chanting Hindu prayers during the days in the dark.
From Barron's ● Sep. 4, 2026
"I remember going in to do a big talk with some young people who had survived cancer and they were like, 'don't call us kids, do not say we're brave.'"
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
That perception changed dramatically after the 2020 and 2021 fire seasons, when images showed entire groves filled with the burned remains of trees that had survived for centuries.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
It was the second natural disaster that Romero’s family had survived, after their home was destroyed in deadly mudslides in 1999 that wiped out the same coastal communities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
Omakayas was laughing for another reason besides the coincidence, for Andeg was near, had survived, might come back someday!
From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich
