Meaning & use

survival

noun·Academic

The state of continuing to live or exist, especially through or after a difficult or dangerous situation.

See it in a sentence

The stranded hikers focused entirely on survival until the rescue team arrived.

The small bookstore's survival depended on support from loyal local customers.

A note on using this word

"Survival of the fittest," coined in evolutionary biology, is often used loosely today for any competitive struggle to succeed.

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

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