Definition

1. Verb:
   • To live longer than (another person): To remain alive after the death of another person.
   • To survive or endure beyond (a period, event, or condition): To continue to exist or function after something else has ended or ceased to exist.

Usage

• The verb "outlive" is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object (the person or thing lived longer than). It is typically used in contexts comparing lifespans or durations of existence.
• It often carries a neutral or factual tone but can imply resilience or unexpected survival.

Examples

• Living longer than a person:
  • He outlived all his siblings.
  • The theory is that women tend to outlive men.
• Surviving beyond an event or period:
  • The old traditions have outlived their usefulness.
  • The car outlived its warranty by five years.

Advanced Usage

• "Outlive one's welcome": To stay somewhere longer than one is wanted or appreciated.
  • After staying for two months, I feared I had outlived my welcome at their house.
• "Outlive its/one's usefulness": To continue to exist after the point where it is no longer needed or effective.
  • The old law has clearly outlived its usefulness and should be repealed.

Variants and Related Words

• Outliver (noun, rare): One who outlives others.
• Longevity (noun): Long life or duration of service. While related to long life, it does not inherently imply a comparison.
• Survive (verb): To continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship. "Survive" is a broader synonym.

Synonyms

• Survive: To remain alive after the death of (a person) or the occurrence of (an event).
• Outlast: To last longer than. Often used for things or abstract concepts (e.g., fame, a product).

Phrasal Verbs / Common Collocations

• Outlive + [person]: The most common structure.
  • She outlived her husband.
• Outlive + [event/condition/concept]:
  • The building outlived the empire that constructed it.
  • He outlived the scandal.

Related Idioms

• To have nine lives: To survive situations that would normally cause death or ruin. (This idiom, often used for cats, conveys a similar idea of surviving against odds but is not a direct synonym).
• The last of the Mohicans: The last survivor of a particular group or era. (This literary idiom implies being the one who outlived all others in a specific context).

Verb

1. live longer than
   • She outlived her husband by many years