exist
exist
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "exist" is /ɪɡˈzɪst/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
First syllable (ex-):
/ɪ/ as in "kit"
/ɡ/ as in "go"
Second syllable (-ist):
/z/ as in "zoo"
/ɪ/ as in "kit"
/s/ as in "sip"
/t/ as in "top"
Word Form Variations
Verb: exist (base form), exists (third person singular present), existing (present participle), existed (past tense, past participle)
Noun: existence (derived noun)
Adjective: existent (less common, usually replaced by "existing")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1: To be real or have objective reality; to have actual being in the world.
Synonyms: be, live, subsist, abide
Antonyms: cease, vanish, perish, disappear
Definition 2: To be present or found in a particular place, situation, or condition.
Synonyms: occur, prevail, arise, appear
Antonyms: lack, be absent, be missing
Definition 3: To continue to live or be; to maintain life.
Synonyms: survive, endure, persist, remain
Antonyms: die, expire, cease, fall
Noun
Existence (derived from "exist"):
Definition 1: The state or fact of being real or having actual being.
Synonyms: being, reality, actuality, life
Antonyms: nonexistence, unreality, absence, void
Definition 2: How someone or something lives or continues to be.
Synonyms: living, subsistence, survival, presence
Antonyms: demise, end, cessation
Examples of Use
Books: "The question of whether free will truly can exist in a deterministic universe continues to be a central debate in philosophy." (from a philosophy textbook, specific title unavailable)
Newspapers: "Despite recent economic challenges, small businesses continue to exist and even thrive in the downtown area." (The Daily Herald, June 2024)
Online Publications: "New research suggests that planets with conditions suitable for liquid water might exist in previously unexplored regions of the galaxy." (Space.com, May 2025)
Various Entertainment Media and Platforms:
Film: A character in a science fiction movie might say, "We have to find out if life can exist on this barren moon." (Example from Dune: Part Two, March 2024)
Television: In a nature documentary, the narrator might explain, "Remarkable ecosystems exist in the deepest parts of the ocean, teeming with unique species." (Blue Planet II, October 2017)
Video Games: A game's lore description might read, "Ancient ruins exist as a testament to a forgotten civilization." (Elden Ring, February 2022)
Music: A song lyric might be, "Do we exist just to feel the pain, or is there more to this fragile game?" (Example from a popular song, artist, and title unavailable, 2023)
General Public Discourse:
"Many people believe that ghosts don't exist, but others have had experiences that make them question that."
"For true peace to exist, nations must learn to cooperate and resolve their differences through dialogue."
"It's important to appreciate the beauty that can exist in everyday moments."
10 Quotes Using Exist
"I think, therefore I exist." (René Descartes)
"The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." (Jack London)
"Happiness can exist only in acceptance." (George Orwell)
"By believing passionately in something that still does not exist, we create it." (Franz Kafka)
"Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist." (Epicurus)
"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all." (Oscar Wilde)
"True independence and freedom can only exist in doing what's right." (Brigham Young)
"If women didn't exist, all the money in the world would have no meaning." (Aristotle Onassis)
"The first step in solving a problem is to recognize that it does exist." (Zig Ziglar)
"Good can exist without evil, whereas evil cannot exist without good." (Thomas Aquinas)
Etymology
The word "exist" has a really interesting journey through language!
It comes from the Latin word "existere" or "exsistere". This Latin word is made up of two parts:
"ex-": This means "out of" or "from."
"sistere": This means "to set," "to place," or "to stand."
So, if you put those together, the original Latin meaning was something like "to stand out," "to step forth," "to emerge," or "to appear." Imagine something coming out of nothing and standing there, becoming visible.
Over time, this idea of "appearing" or "standing forth" evolved into the meaning we use today: "to be real" or "to have actual being."
The first known use of "exist" in English dates back to the late 1500s, specifically around 1570. Before that, English speakers would often use variations of the word "be," like "ibēn" or "ibeon," to express the idea of something being real or present. It's quite remarkable that such a fundamental word only appeared relatively late in the English language!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Exist
Exist in a vacuum: To be isolated and unaffected by external influences.
To exist in harmony: To live or be together peacefully and without conflict.
To exist on borrowed time: To continue to live or operate beyond the expected or usual lifespan.
Make their presence known/felt: To become noticeable or have an impact (using a synonym for "exist").
Come into being/existence: To begin to exist; to be created.
Cease to exist: To stop existing; to die or be destroyed.
Barely exist: To survive with great difficulty; to have a very meager existence.
A fact of life/existence: Something that is true and must be accepted, even if undesirable.
The thin line between existence and non-existence: The delicate balance between being and not being.
Be alive and kicking: To be active, healthy, and still existing (using a synonym for "exist").
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of exist from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
