exist

verb ex·ist \ ig-ˈzist \

Updated on: 25 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

Some complain that a 90-minute ride to Boston is too long, even though that ride exists elsewhere in the system.

— BostonGlobe.com, "Should the state proceed with Phase 1 of the South Coast Rail project?," 20 Apr. 2018
The liberal and progressive energy that has risen up to meet Trump, Booker added, existed -- or should have -- before the 2016 election.

— gregory krieg, CNN, "Donald who? 2020 prospects hit New York for 'temperature tour'," 20 Apr. 2018
Currently, there are no formal academic worker organizing drives under way in Michigan, though UAW locals exist at 11 college campuses, including Wayne State University, Eastern Michigan University and Michigan Technological University.

— phoebe wall howard, Detroit Free Press, "UAW wins election at Harvard; student workers organize," 20 Apr. 2018
Graduation losses meant the opportunity existed this season to be Naperville Central’s ace.

— blake baumgartner, Naperville Sun, "Just Jared: Suchevits sets down Waubonsie Valley as Naperville Central rolls to DVC victory," 20 Apr. 2018
Performance-enhancing drugs have been central to competitive cycling for as long as the sport has existed.

— matt hart, The Atlantic, "The Man Who Brought Down Lance Armstrong," 19 Apr. 2018
Documents from the journey are still hard to come by, and until now most accounts existed only in academic circles.

— porter fox, Outside Online, "The Best New Books About Epic Expeditions," 19 Apr. 2018
To find out if life could exist on one of the thousands of planets that TESS will find around M-dwarfs, or on any other exoplanet for that matter, astronomers will have their work cut out for them.

— jay bennett, Popular Mechanics, "The Number of Known Alien Worlds Is About to Increase By as Much as 400 Percent," 18 Apr. 2018
While a cult of personality, marked by total loyalty to the honorable people, has existed since the 1940s around men in the Kim family — former leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, and Kim Jong-un — Kim wives don’t necessarily get the same title.

— amanda arnold, The Cut, "Kim Jong-un’s Wife Is Getting Her Own Cult of Personality," 17 Apr. 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

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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.