exist

verb ex·ist \ ig-ˈzist \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of exist

intransitive verb

1 a : to have real being whether material or spiritual

did unicorns exist

the largest galaxy known to exist

b : to have being in a specified place or with respect to understood limitations or conditions

strange ideas existed in his mind

2 : to continue to be

racism still exists in society

3 a : to have life or the functions of vitality

we cannot exist without oxygen

b : to live at an inferior level or under adverse circumstances

the hungry existing from day to day

See exist defined for English-language learners

See exist defined for kids

Examples of exist in a Sentence

She believes that ghosts really do exist.
It's the largest galaxy known to exist.
Does life exist on Mars?
The Internet didn't exist then.
We shouldn't ignore the problems that exist in our own community.
Racism still exists in our society.
The organization may soon cease to exist if more funding isn't provided.

Recent Examples of exist from the Web

The Swedish firm opted for an unconventional direct listing, allowing existing investors to trade shares freely instead of issuing new stock.

— The Economist, "Business this week," 5 Apr. 2018
The program had existed across the region but had no physical home.

— mark curnutte, Cincinnati.com, "A decade-by-decade look at how Avondale came back after the 1968 riots," 4 Apr. 2018
Unions don’t just exist to turn out votes for Democrats.

— sarah jones, The New Republic, "How Liberals Learned to Love the Teachers," 4 Apr. 2018
The sunstones of legend could identify the sun’s location even if it was occluded by clouds; however, no such stones have been found in the handful of Viking shipwrecks that exist.

— sid perkins, Science | AAAS, "Viking seafarers may have navigated with legendary crystals," 3 Apr. 2018
All of Charleston’s plantations used to have grand gardens, but the gardens at Middleton Place are really the only example that still exist today.

— emily selter, Town & Country, "The Southern Charm Guide to Charleston," 3 Apr. 2018
The bombs are B83s, which exist, and are carried by a stealth B-3 bomber, which does not.

— joe pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, "Hollywood Has No Idea How Nukes Work," 2 Apr. 2018
The only problem was that since no one else was making anything similar, no production machines existed.

— ariella gintzler, Outside Online, "The Machine That Built Your Therm-a-Rest Just Retired," 30 Mar. 2018
With this mid-cycle refresh, Kia hopes to remind everybody that the attractive Sedona still exists and offers a well-rounded package.

— tony markovich, Car and Driver, "2019 Kia Sedona: Still Fetching, Still Offers a Lot," 29 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'exist.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of exist

Latin exsistere to come into being, exist, from ex- + sistere to stand, stop; akin to Latin stare to stand — more at stand

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1568

See Words from the same year

exist Synonyms

EXIST Defined for English Language Learners

exist

verb

Definition of exist for English Language Learners

: to have actual being : to be real
: to continue to be or to live

EXIST Defined for Kids

exist

verb ex·ist \ ig-ˈzist \

Definition of exist for Students

existed; existing

1 : to have actual being : be real

Do unicorns exist?

2 : to be found : occur

Problems exist in every neighborhood.

3 : to continue to live

She barely earned enough to exist.

Word Root of exist

The Latin word sistere, meaning “to stand,” “to appear,” “to stop,” or “to put,” gives us the root sist. Words from the Latin sistere have something to do with standing, appearing, stopping, or putting. To assist, or help, is to stand by someone in order to give aid. To consist is to be made up of a number of thing put together. To exist, or have actual being, is to appear real. To persist is to refuse to stop doing or saying something.