coexist

verb

co·​ex·​ist ˌkō-ig-ˈzist 

coexisted; coexisting; coexists

intransitive verb

1

: to exist together or at the same time

2

: to live in peace with each other especially as a matter of policy

coexistence

ˌkō-ig-ˈzi-stən(t)s 

noun

coexistent

ˌkō-ig-ˈzi-stənt 

adjective

Synonyms

• accompany
• attend
• co-occur
• coincide
• concur
• synchronize

Examples of coexist in a Sentence

The species coexist in the same environment.

Can the two countries peacefully coexist?

Recent Examples on the Web

Working from Enoch’s predictions, the researchers found that two writing styles in the Dead Sea Scrolls, known as Hasmonean and Herodian, actually coexisted for much longer than historians thought. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 June 2025

Bacteria and yeast coexist in plants, soil, water, and the human body. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 4 June 2025

But then, among the best things that Frank and company do is to let the grief and farce peacefully coexist. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 May 2025

Hollywood as a city where humans and cartoons uneasily coexist—most notably in the segregated Toontown. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 21 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for coexist

• blastocyst
• bolshevist
• egoist
• hedonist
• jihadist
• nativist
• oculist
• reminisced
• assist
• blacklist
• booklist
• checklist

Kids Definition

coexist

verb

co·​ex·​ist ˌkō-ig-ˈzist 

1

: to exist together or at the same time

2

: to live in peace with each other

coexistence

-ˈzis-tən(t)s 

noun

coexistent

-tənt 

adjective