exist

verb ex·ist \ ig-ˈzist \

|Updated on: 14 Aug 2018

Examples: exist in a Sentence

Definition of exist

existed; existing; exists

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

In a quarter of the cases, no record existed that an investigator even visited the residence of a child with elevated levels of lead.

— ahmed elbenni, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Mayor Tom Barrett has nominated a new Health Department commissioner. Here are the problems facing the agency," 12 July 2018
From a design standpoint, ashtrays provide the rare opportunity for a small, functional, usually affordable artwork to exist within the home.

— refinery29.com, "Why Are Ashtrays Trending Again? Well, We'll Be Blunt...," 11 July 2018
Here, Riley zeroes in on the performances black employees in Silicon Valley and beyond must undertake just to exist in the same space as their white colleagues and bosses.

— hannah giorgis, The Atlantic, "Sorry to Bother You Has an Eerily Familiar Villain," 10 July 2018
Privacy - Terms Supporters of the measure say the income from the machines is necessary for live horse racing to exist in Idaho.

— nicole blanchard, idahostatesman, "Idaho will vote this fall on legalizing horse-race gambling machines," 10 July 2018
Only two populations of mooneye are known to exist in Michigan.

— michigan wildlife council, Detroit Free Press, "Polishing a gem: Plan aims for St. Clair-Detroit River system improvements," 10 July 2018
Mas also emphasizes that Melreese's renowned First Tee program, a national initiative to encourage golf from an early age, would not cease to exist if displaced from Melreese.

— greg cote, miamiherald, "Let voters decide! Why Beckham group's soccer stadium plan deserves to be on ballot," 9 July 2018
Tell me a little bit about creating the effects for Ghost, who frequently seems to exist in multiple probable versions of herself.

— todd vanderwerff, Vox, "The folks behind Ant-Man and the Wasp on why Marvel doesn’t always have to save the world," 5 July 2018
Both Thompson and Stanfield have had the sort of careers that allow them to exist out of the norm—to play a Cassius and a Detroit, but then double back and play any other genre they damn well please.

— allison p. davis, GQ, "The Bizarre Brilliance of Lakeith Stanfield and Tessa Thompson in Sorry to Bother You," 3 July 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.