English Dictionary

Definition of “exist”

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exist (ɪɡˈzɪstPronunciation for exist) 

Definitions

verb (intr)

  1. to have being or reality; to be
  2. to eke out a living; stay alive; survive  ⇒ I can barely exist on this wage 
  3. to be living; live
  4. to be present under specified conditions or in a specified place  ⇒ sharks exist in the Pacific 
  5. philosophy 
    1. to be actual rather than merely possible
    2. to be a member of the domain of some theory, an element of some possible world, etc
    3. to have contingent being while free, responsible, and aware of one's situation

Alternative Forms

exˈisting adjective

Word Origin

C17: from Latin exsistere  to step forth, from ex-C17: from Latin to step forth, from 1 + to stand + sistere to stand

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= live, be present be living last, survive, breathe, endure, be in existence be, be extant have breath
= occur, happen, stand, remain, obtain, be present prevail, abide,
= survive, stay alive make ends meet, subsist, eke out a living scrape by, scrimp and save support yourself keep your head above water get along or by

Translations

  • British English: exist Pronunciation for exist If something exists, it is present in the world as a real thing.He thought that if he couldn't see something, it didn't exist.ɪɡˈzɪst VERB He thought that if he couldn't see something, it didn't exist.
  • Spanish: existir Pronunciation for existir v
  • French: exister Pronunciation for exister vi
  • German: existieren Pronunciation for existieren v
  • Chinese: 存在Pronunciation for 存在 v
  • Arabic: يوجدُPronunciation for يوجدُ vi
  • Portuguese: existirPronunciation for existir v
  • Russian: существоватьPronunciation for существовать v
  • Croatian: postojatiPronunciation for postojati v
  • Czech: existovatPronunciation for existovat v
  • Danish: eksisterePronunciation for eksistere v
  • Dutch: bestaanPronunciation for bestaan v
  • Finnish: olla olemassaPronunciation for olla olemassa v
  • Greek: υπάρχωPronunciation for υπάρχω v
  • Italian: esisterePronunciation for esistere v
  • Japanese: 存在するPronunciation for 存在する v
  • Korean: 존재하다Pronunciation for 존재하다 v
  • Norwegian: eksisterePronunciation for eksistere v
  • Polish: zaistniećPronunciation for zaistnieć v istnieć
  • Brazilian Portuguese: existirPronunciation for existir v
  • European Spanish: existir Pronunciation for existir v
  • Swedish: existeraPronunciation for existera v
  • Thai: มีชีวิตPronunciation for มีชีวิต v
  • Turkish: var olmakPronunciation for var olmak v
  • Vietnamese: tồn tạiPronunciation for tồn tại v

Usage examples

  • I don't know if guardian angels and muses actually exist , but I suspect they do.
    Anita Anderson, SOMEBODY (2002)
  • Gravitational tugs The first thing they looked for in each system was whether a small terrestrial planet could exist in a stable orbit.
    New Scientist (2003)
  • Three weeks without Roy Keane will drain what spirits exist in the country.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • Nor is track and field the only activities where such partnerships exist.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • A single diet that can help anyone lose weight does not exist.
    Martin Budd N.D., D.O., WHY CAN'T I LOSE WEIGHT: Is Your Weight Gain a Symptom of a Hidden Health Problem? (2002)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'E'

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