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

The mere existence of the contest, and the questions Riquelme has managed to put on the table about governance, transparency and the club’s relationship with its members, represents a shift in the internal conversation at the Bernabéu, regardless of what the result says on Sunday night. —Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026

The Valkyries put together a solid season last year, their first in existence. —David Troy, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026

Bowing to Trump, feckless state legislators have unconstitutionally gerrymandered Democratic-leaning congressional districts out of existence. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 May 2026

Study authors noted that while some archaeologists have considered the existence of a local government, there is no substantial evidence to support this notion. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 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