outlive
/aut'liv/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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- The old law has clearly outlived its usefulness and should be repealed.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
- live longer than
- She outlived her husband by many years