subsist

verb

sub·​sist səb-ˈsist 

subsisted; subsisting; subsists

intransitive verb

1

a

: to have existence : be

b

: persist, continue

2

: to have or acquire the necessities of life (such as food and clothing)

especially : to nourish oneself

subsisting on roots, berries and grubs

3

a

: to hold true

b

: to be logically conceivable as the subject of true statements

transitive verb

: to support with provisions

Synonyms

• be
• breathe
• exist
• live

Examples of subsist in a Sentence

The author's right to royalties shall subsist for the term of the copyright.

a love that was as great as any that ever did subsist

Recent Examples on the Web

With starting quarterbacks getting almost all the reps during practice each week, backups have to subsist mostly on scout team reps and film study. —Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024

Burbank and Cooper, for whom empires subsist as amazing structures of large-scale governance, accommodating difference without (or until) falling to forces of localism or alternative empires, have a different perspective on collapse. —Charles S. Maier, Foreign Affairs, 1 July 2010

Did Ancient Mongolians Only Eat Blood? Aside from blood sausages, also known as blood pudding in some areas, Mongolians likely subsisted mostly on meat and dairy products from their herds. —Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 25 June 2024

Studies of the remains of our forebears, as well as observations of living primates and modern-day hunter-gatherers, refute the idea that humans evolved to subsist primarily on animals. —Kate Wong, Scientific American, 25 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin subsistere to exist, from Latin, to come to a halt, remain, from sub- + sistere to come to a stand; akin to Latin stare to stand — more at stand

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing subsist

• subsist on

Kids Definition

subsist

verb

sub·​sist səb-ˈsist 

1

: to have or continue to have existence : be, persist

2

: to have or get the necessities of life (as food and clothing)

especially : to nourish oneself

subsisting on roots and berries