subsist

sub·sist | \ səb-ˈsist

How to pronounce subsist (audio)

\

subsisted; subsisting; subsists

Definition of subsist

intransitive verb

1a : to have existence : be

b : persist, continue

2 : to have or acquire the necessities of life (such as food and clothing) especially : to nourish oneself subsisting on roots, berries and grubs

3a : to hold true

b : to be logically conceivable as the subject of true statements

transitive verb

: to support with provisions

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about subsist

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Examples of subsist in a Sentence

The author's right to royalties shall subsist for the term of the copyright. a love that was as great as any that ever did subsist

Recent Examples on the Web In Brooklyn, Russell was a ball-dominant point guard whose game subsisted on pick-and-rolls. — Connor Letourneau, SFChronicle.com, "Get to know Warriors’ eight newcomers, three of whom could start immediately," 12 July 2019 The patient was mostly subsisting on french fries, Pringles, white bread, ham and sausage, according to the case report. — Time, "A Teen Boy's Diet of Fries and Sausage Led to Blindness, According to a New Case Study," 3 Sep. 2019 For an industry that has barely subsisted on razor-thin margins, one more challenge might be enough to push it into decline. — Matt Reynolds, WIRED, "A Fungus Could Wipe Out the Banana Forever," 19 Aug. 2019 But for native communities that subsist largely on hunting and fishing, removing a man diminishes the village in the eyes of other Alaska Natives. — USA Today, "Alaska is considered the deadliest state for women. A staggering 59% of women there have experienced violence.," 25 June 2019 To be fair, Roethlisberger has never subsisted, even for one season, on an unsustainable touchdown rate. — Michael Beller, SI.com, "Ben Roethlisberger, Russell Wilson Lead 2019 Regression Candidates," 20 June 2019 Within a few months, Bourus was subsisting on Chex cereal with skim milk, her weight dwindling to 97 pounds. — Courtney Rubin, Marie Claire, "Cleansing's Dirty Secret," 26 Apr. 2013 Being a vegetarian doesn't mean subsisting on steamed broccoli and bowls of pasta. — Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, "That Nut Butter Bar You're Obsessed With Is Easy to Make at Home," 10 Sep. 2019 Chief Thozo’s backyard—where the local community subsists in the thick forests that fringe the Zambezi Delta floodplains. — Paul Steyn, National Geographic, "How the world’s largest lion relocation was pulled off," 2 May 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'subsist.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near subsist

subsistence economy

subsistence farming

Statistics for subsist

Last Updated

18 Oct 2019

Time Traveler for subsist

The first known use of subsist was in 1549

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WORD OF THE DAY

incongruous

not being in agreement or harmony

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