verb ex·ist \ig-ˈzist\

: to have actual being : to be real

: to continue to be or to live

Full Definition of EXIST

intransitive verb
a :  to have real being whether material or spiritual <did unicorns exist> <the largest galaxy known to exist>
b :  to have being in a specified place or with respect to understood limitations or conditions <strange ideas existed in his mind>
:  to continue to be <racism still exists in society>
a :  to have life or the functions of vitality <we cannot exist without oxygen>
b :  to live at an inferior level or under adverse circumstances <the hungry existing from day to day>

Examples of EXIST

  1. She believes that ghosts really do exist.
  2. It's the largest galaxy known to exist.
  3. Does life exist on Mars?
  4. The Internet didn't exist then.
  5. We shouldn't ignore the problems that exist in our own community.
  6. Racism still exists in our society.
  7. The organization may soon cease to exist if more funding isn't provided.

Origin of EXIST

Latin exsistere to come into being, exist, from ex- + sistere to stand, stop; akin to Latin stare to stand — more at stand
First Known Use: circa 1568


Next Word in the Dictionary: existencePrevious Word in the Dictionary: exiniteAll Words Near: exist
May 05, 2015
epigram Hear it
a short and clever poem or saying
Take a 3-minute break and test your skills!
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears