Definition of existence
1a obsolete : reality as opposed to appearanceb : reality as presented in experiencec (1) : the totality of existent things (2) : a particular being all the fair existences of heaven — John Keatsd : sentient or living being : life
2a : the state or fact of having being especially independently of human consciousness and as contrasted with nonexistence the existence of other worldsb : the manner of being that is common to every mode of beingc : being with respect to a limiting condition or under a particular aspect
3 : actual or present occurrence existence of a state of war
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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 of existence from the Web
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But Blanton’s family in Harlan County had been living a scant existence.
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For most who still follow that burning desire to make a living out of their various basketball skill sets, that means carving an existence overseas, a prospect that, while much more glamorous than in past years, is still a tough life.
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For contrast, their Southern League rivals in Birmingham moved into two new stadiums during the Stars' existence in Huntsville.
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But the existence of these two similar-but-different flavors might explain why some people remember the pink stuff as tasting like bubble gum, while others remember fruitiness.
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I was pleasantly surprised by the existence of nuts in several of the blends, which added a hint of savoriness and texture.
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All along the peninsula, peasants who have been eking out a meager existence by subsistence farming and fishing say they’ve been left to fend for themselves amid a painfully slow recovery, and in the midst of another hurricane season.
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Slock.it, another startup, is developing physical locks which have a digital existence on Ethereum.
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These included an adult Faith coming to terms with her choices and circumstances as a teen, plus everyone learning what happened to the boys’ father, who knew nothing about his sons’ existence.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'existence.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of existence
15th century
EXISTENCE Defined for Kids
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See words that rhyme with existence Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for existence Spanish Central: Translation of existence Nglish: Translation of existence for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of existence for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about existence
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