existed; existing; exists
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
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 on the Web
Some of the new parental rights policies, born out of anger over claims that districts are trying to indoctrinate children, actually duplicate processes that already existed.
—
Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 13 Oct. 2025
There is a lot of change needed within the music industry and the whole world… Change does not come from accepting the status quo that exists right now, change comes from [challenging] it.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2025
As noted in an analysis by the Motley Fool, there have only been three times since 1871 when the metric peaked at such high levels—late 1999 and early 2022—both of which preceded major crashes, adding to existing fears over a potential correction on the horizon.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
But definitely this little fear inside still exists.
—NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exist
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Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 13 Oct. 2025
There is a lot of change needed within the music industry and the whole world… Change does not come from accepting the status quo that exists right now, change comes from [challenging] it.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2025
As noted in an analysis by the Motley Fool, there have only been three times since 1871 when the metric peaked at such high levels—late 1999 and early 2022—both of which preceded major crashes, adding to existing fears over a potential correction on the horizon.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
But definitely this little fear inside still exists.
—NPR, 13 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exist
Cite this Entry
“Exist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exist. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
exist
verb
ex·ist
ig-ˈzist 
1
: to have actual being : be real
do unicorns exist?
2
: to continue to be
as long as doubt exists
3
: to continue to live : stay alive
earned barely enough to exist on
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