existence

noun

ex·​is·​tence ig-ˈzi-stən(t)s 

1

a

: the state or fact of having being especially independently of human consciousness and as contrasted with nonexistence

the existence of other worlds

b

: the manner of being that is common to every mode of being

c

: being with respect to a limiting condition or under a particular aspect

2

: actual or present occurrence

existence of a state of war

3

a(1)

: the totality of existent things

(2)

: a particular being

… all the fair existences of heaven …

—John Keats

b

: sentient or living being : life

c

: reality as presented in experience

d

obsolete : reality as opposed to appearance

Synonyms of existence

• reality
• presence
• prevalence
• subsistence

Examples of existence in a Sentence

She began to doubt the existence of God.

the existence of UFO's is something that people continue to argue about

Recent Examples on the Web

Chinese authorities have neither confirmed nor denied the new submarine’s existence. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 July 2026

The existence of these precedents—many of which, not incidentally, involve imperial ambition or climate change—is taken as a credential of their seriousness. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 25 July 2026

Twenty-five companies, including Microsoft, Nvidia, Meta, IBM, and Palantir, just told Washington not to regulate open-weight AI models out of existence. — Ashish Bhatia, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026

Thomas Drance Vegas Golden Knights Evander Kane The most intense rivalry for the Golden Knights in their short history was with the Sharks, especially over the first few seasons of Vegas’ existence. — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 25 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Middle French existence, existance, borrowed from Late Latin existentia, exsistentia, noun derivative of existent-, existens/exsistent-, exsistens "having being, existent"

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3d

Phrases Containing existence

• come into existence
• go out of existence
• struggle for existence

Rhymes for existence

• assistance
• consistence
• desistance
• insistence
• persistence
• resistance
• subsistence
• coexistence
• nonexistence
• distance
• magnetoresistance

Kids Definition

existence

noun

ex·​ist·​ence

ig-ˈzis-tən(t)s

1

: the fact or the state of having being or of being real

the largest animal in existence

2

: the state of being alive : life

owed my existence to a doctor's skill