outlive

[out-liv]

verb (used with object)

outlived, outliving 

1. to live longer than; survive (a person, period, etc.).

   She outlived her husband by many years.

2. to outlast; live or last through.

   The ship outlived the storm. He hopes to outlive the stigma of his imprisonment.

outlive

/ ˌaʊtˈlɪv /

verb

1. to live longer than (someone)

2. to live beyond (a date or period)

   he outlived the century

3. to live through (an experience)

Other Word Forms

• outliver noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of outlive¹

First recorded in 1425–75, outlive is from the late Middle English word outliven. See out-, live ¹

Synonym Study

See survive.

Example Sentences

By postponing saving for retirement, people have less time to save and lack the benefit of compound growth, reducing their overall retirement savings and making them more likely to outlive their money as longevity increases.

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However, she was quick to joke that her ambitions as far as doomsday prepping are concerned don’t include outliving the rest of humanity.

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In my father’s last years, I frequently lost sleep about the possibility that he might outlive his money.

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The corporation’s reputation worldwide as a reliable source of news has long outlived the reality of its daily output.

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Nobody worried about it because we honestly didn’t expect him to outlive our mom.

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