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

The film’s plenitude shows how people subsist alongside the irresistible rise of media fascism. —Armond White, National Review, 22 Mar. 2024

For one thing, most of the players subsisted in a state of perpetual drunkenness worsened only by the lines of cocaine being doled out. —Jordan Runtagh, Peoplemag, 31 Oct. 2023

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