Definition

1. Noun:
   • The state or fact of continuing to live or exist, especially in difficult conditions: The condition of remaining alive or in existence.
   • Something that has continued to exist from an earlier time, especially when similar things have disappeared: A relic, custom, or belief that persists from the past.
   • (In biology) The natural process by which organisms best adapted to their environment tend to survive and reproduce: The continuation of life through this process.

Usage and Examples

• Referring to the state of being alive:
  • The explorers' survival depended on finding fresh water.
  • Basic first aid knowledge can increase your chances of survival in an emergency.
• Referring to something that remains from the past:
  • This ancient ritual is a survival from pre-Christian times.
  • The building is a rare survival of medieval architecture in the city.
• Referring to the biological process:
  • Natural selection is often described as the survival of the fittest.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Survival of the fittest": A phrase (often attributed to Herbert Spencer) describing the process of natural selection, where the organisms best adapted to their environment are the most successful in surviving and reproducing.
  • In the harsh desert, it's a clear case of survival of the fittest.
• "Survival instinct": The innate, biologically driven impulse to preserve one's own life.
  • Her survival instinct kicked in, and she managed to escape.
• "Survival rate": The percentage of people or organisms that survive a particular condition or period.
  • The five-year survival rate for this type of cancer has improved.

Variants and Related Words

• Survive (verb): To continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship.
  • Few plants can survive in such arid conditions.
• Survivor (noun): A person who survives, especially a person remaining alive after an event in which others have died.
  • She was the sole survivor of the shipwreck.
• Survivalist (noun): A person who practices survival skills or prepares for emergencies, often anticipating societal collapse.
  • He's a survivalist who stores food and water for any disaster.

Synonyms

• Continuance: The state of remaining in existence or operation.
• Persistence: The fact of continuing in an opinion or course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.
• Endurance: The ability to withstand hardship or adversity.

Antonyms

• Extinction: The state or process of being or becoming extinct; having no living members.
• Demise: A person's death; the end or failure of an enterprise or institution.
• Perishing: To die, especially in a violent or sudden way.

Common Collocations and Phrases

• Struggle for survival: The difficult effort to stay alive.
  • The refugees face a daily struggle for survival.
• Survival kit/supplies: A package of basic tools and supplies prepared in advance as an aid to survival.
  • Every car should have an emergency survival kit.
• Survival strategy/skills: Techniques and knowledge used to provide basic necessities for life.
  • Learning survival skills like building a fire is essential for hikers.

Noun

1. something that survives
2. a natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment
3. a state of surviving; remaining alive