outlast

Imagine two candles burning. One flickers and dies quickly, while the other burns steadily for hours. The second candle outlasts the first: it keeps burning longer. To outlast something means to survive it or keep going after it stops, fails, or disappears. It's often used when talking about hard times, competition, products, or relationships. A well-made product might outlast a cheaper one, and a strong friendship can outlast difficult times. Sometimes, it simply means to be more durable: a good pair of boots should outlast several seasons of wear.

To outlast something is to survive it, endure beyond it, or continue existing for a longer period than another thing or person. It implies resilience and the ability to withstand challenges or the passage of time.

You might say a legendary athlete "outlasts their rivals," meaning they continue performing at a high level even as others decline. Or you might say an ancient tradition has outlasted centuries of change, showing that it has remained important despite changing times. It doesn't necessarily mean winning; it simply means continuing to exist or continue when something else has ended.

The context often suggests what is being outlasted: a difficult situation ("We hoped our savings would outlast the crisis"), a physical object ("This car should outlast any other on the market"), or even life itself (though this usage carries a heavier weight). It can also describe something's durability: "These boots are built to outlast harsh conditions."

Unlike words like "surpass," which suggest being better in quality or performance, outlast focuses on time and endurance. It is about staying power, resilience, and the ability to endure when others fall away. So, if you want to describe something that can withstand the test of time or keep going through difficulty, outlast is a strong word to use.