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 of coexist

• accompany
• coincide

Examples of coexist in a Sentence

The species coexist in the same environment.

Can the two countries peacefully coexist?

Recent Examples on the Web

Hampton can obviously coexist with another back or two, because that’s life in the modern NFL. — Andy Behrens, New York Times, 21 July 2026

Strikingly, these great works coexisted in the museum with an enormous exhibition of art from schoolchildren on the East End, a tradition at the museum for more than 70 years, with contributors from Flanders and East Hampton. — Vanessa Grigoriadis, Vanity Fair, 21 July 2026

There are, of course, other models of languages coexisting, with varying levels of amity. — Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 July 2026

When planned well, greenways coexist and complement pedestrians, cars, and trucks. — Andrew Kimball, New York Daily News, 19 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for coexist

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

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