subsist on

verb

subsisted on; subsisting on; subsists on

: to use (something) as a way to stay alive : to live on (something)

poor people subsisting on just one or two dollars a day

The villagers subsist almost entirely on rice and fish.

(humorous) My brother subsists on pizza.

Examples of subsist on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many birds subsist on bugs, including grubs, earthworms, and flying insects. — The Spruce, 5 July 2026

Vonnegut’s novel is a gem from a simpler era of possible space exploration, complete with the dumbest Martian invasion in literature, kitelike beings that subsist on Mercury’s vibrations, and, of course, Vonnegut’s perennial alien characters, the Tralfamadorians. — Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 12 June 2026

In Philadelphia, impoverished people often subsisted on bread. — Carolyn Zola, The Conversation, 11 June 2026

Aguilar, who has two young daughters, says his family is subsisting on food banks and relies on donations for rent. — Naisha Roy, ProPublica, 29 Apr. 2026

Rhymes for subsist on

• aileron
• antiphon
• autobahn
• carillon
• castellan
• celadon
• cephalon
• cynodon
• denouement
• deuteron
• echelon
• epsilon