it survived for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it survived for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate the duration of time that something has continued to exist or endure. Example: "The ancient tree has stood in this park for centuries; it survived for over 500 years despite numerous storms."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Once the spirochete established its presence in numerous foci, it survived for months in water, mud, and moist soil and caused infection in additional mammalian reservoirs.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Theories about its origins vary, but one thing is certain: it survived for centuries in this small community, which is now struggling to keep it from perishing.

The New York Times

There are a few essential books written about China and how it survived for thousands of years without destroying its soil.

Huffington Post

It survived for decades on state subsidies, providing benefits for its 30,000 workers but making low-quality ferrous metals that earned poor returns.

The New York Times

Even though software to kill the bug was released within a day, it survived for months.

Cornell University

It survived for about 30 seconds -- an extraordinarily long time for a superheavy element.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

Barring war, which Netanyahu's allies never bar, it is hard to see how it survives for long.

The New Yorker

The original admirers of "3 Women" won't get to see whether it survives for 100 years.

The New York Times

It survives for my enthusiastic, unselfconscious, 14-year-old self, the like of which still exists in vast numbers across the UK.

The Guardian - Music

It was, in short, a mess that only a Danielle Haas-Dubosc could cope with and, despite it being on life-support, could make it survive for those students.

Columbia University

Incredibly it survives for the next two years despite having the original press blown up by shellfire, and the regiment being moved around the battlefields of Flanders.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it survived for" to emphasize the duration something managed to exist, particularly when facing challenging conditions or unexpected circumstances. For a more neutral description, consider alternatives such as "it lasted for".

Common error

Don't use "it survived for" when a simpler phrase like "it lasted" would suffice. The phrase is most effective when highlighting resilience or unexpected longevity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it survived for" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the duration of an entity's existence, often implying resilience or unexpected longevity. Examples provided by Ludwig illustrate usage in contexts ranging from organisms enduring harsh conditions to abstract entities like traditions or political systems enduring challenges.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

23%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it survived for" is a versatile expression used to emphasize the duration of something's existence, often with an implication of resilience or unexpected longevity. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and common usage of this phrase across various contexts, predominantly in News & Media, Academia and Science. When using the phrase, consider the subtle connotations of endurance and resilience it conveys, and choose alternatives like "it lasted for" for a more neutral expression of duration.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it lasted for

Focuses on the duration of existence or activity, often implying a natural or expected end.

it endured for

Emphasizes the ability to withstand hardship or challenges over a period of time.

it persisted for

Highlights the continuous existence or action, often despite obstacles.

it remained for

Indicates a state of being or location maintained over a period.

it existed for

Simply states the period of being, without implying anything about difficulty or change.

it continued for

Suggests an ongoing action or state that extended over time.

it was sustained for

Implies active effort to keep something going.

it held out for

Suggests resisting defeat or collapse for a period.

it weathered for

Implies survival through a difficult period.

it prolonged for

Suggests extending the period of survival or existence.

FAQs

How can I use "it survived for" in a sentence?

Use "it survived for" to describe how long something lasted, especially when it endured difficult conditions. For example, "The ancient manuscript "it survived for centuries" despite a fire".

What can I say instead of "it survived for"?

You can use alternatives like "it lasted for", "it endured for", or "it persisted for" depending on the specific context.

What is the difference between "it survived for" and "it lasted for"?

"It survived for" implies that something endured through challenging conditions, while "it lasted for" simply indicates the duration of its existence without necessarily implying hardship.

Is it correct to say "it survived for a long time"?

Yes, "it survived for a long time" is grammatically correct and commonly used. The phrase emphasizes the considerable duration of something's existence or endurance.