exist

verb

ex·​ist ig-ˈzist 

existed; existing; exists

intransitive verb

1

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

2

: to continue to be

racism still exists in society

3

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

Synonyms

• be
• breathe
• live
• subsist

Examples of exist in a Sentence

She believes that ghosts really do exist.

It's the largest galaxy known to exist.

Does life exist on Mars?

The Internet didn't exist then.

We shouldn't ignore the problems that exist in our own community.

Racism still exists in our society.

The organization may soon cease to exist if more funding isn't provided.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Kaiser Family Health Foundation reports that less than 29% of Texas’s oral health care needs are met by the existing in-state supply of dental care providers. —Patrick Gleason, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025

After his inauguration, President Trump quickly canceled existing appointments and ended use of a phone application used by the Biden administration to schedule them. —Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2025

In addition, the site will incorporate and expand existing critical resiliency efforts to prevent flooding from the next superstorm. —Dan Goldman, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2025

But the findings suggest any signs of life on Mars from billions of years ago could still exist today. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 29 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French exister, borrowed from Latin existere, exsistere "to come into view, appear, show oneself, come into being" (Late Latin, "to have real being, be, be present"), from ex- ex- entry 1 + sistere "to cause to stand, assume a standing position, place, check, halt" — more at assist entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for exist

• assist
• blacklist
• booklist
• checklist
• consist
• desist
• dismissed
• enlist
• insist
• oocyst
• persist
• resist

Kids Definition

exist

verb

ex·​ist ig-ˈzist 

1

: to have actual being : be real

do unicorns exist?

2

: to continue to be

as long as doubt exists

3

: to continue to live : stay alive

earned barely enough to exist on