exist

verb ex·ist \ig-ˈzist\

: to have actual being : to be real

: to continue to be or to live

Full Definition of EXIST

intransitive verb

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>

: to continue to be <racism still exists in society>

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>

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Origin of EXIST

Latin exsistere to come into being, exist, from ex- + sistere to stand, stop; akin to Latin stare to stand — more at stand

First Known Use: circa 1568

Related to EXIST

Synonyms: breathe, be, live, subsist

Antonyms: depart, die, expire, pass away, perish, succumb

Rhymes with EXIST

A-list, assist, backlist, blacklist, B-list, checklist, consist, dean's list, delist, desist, encyst, enlist, entwist, handlist, hit list, insist, life list, mailed fist, persist, playlist, protist, Rehnquist, resist, short list, short-list, subsist, untwist, wait-list, white list, wish list

EXISTING Defined for Kids

exist

verb ex·ist \ig-ˈzist\

ex·ist·edex·ist·ing

Definition of EXIST for Kids

: to have actual being : be real <Do unicorns exist?>

: to be found : occur <Problems exist in every neighborhood.>

: to continue to live <She barely earned enough to exist.>

Word Root of EXIST

The Latin word sistere, meaning “to stand,” “to appear,” “to stop,” or “to put,” gives us the root sist. Words from the Latin sistere have something to do with standing, appearing, stopping, or putting. To assist, or help, is to stand by someone in order to give aid. To consist is to be made up of a number of thing put together. To exist, or have actual being, is to appear real. To persist is to refuse to stop doing or saying something.

Learn More About EXIST

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "exist"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "exist"

Nglish: Translation of "exist" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "exist" for Arabic speakers

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