List of 426 Sets of Synonyms - How they Differ - Total of 2307 Words - 277

SYNONYMS: outlive, outlast, survive.
These verbs mean to exist longer than another person or thing.

Outlive often implies the capacity for endurance in competition: outlive one's enemies. Sometimes it refers to going beyond a certain time; He outlived his usefulness.
Outlast can often be used interchangeably with outlive, but it is more commonly applies to things, stressing duration, rather than persons. When applied to persons, outlast suggests endurance. German cars often outlast Japanese cars.
Survive may be used with reference merely to living longer than another: He is survived by his wife. However, survive has the more common meaning of remaining alive after a dangerous event: He survived the auto accident.