exist

ex·ist

verb \ig-ˈzist\

Definition of EXIST

intransitive verb

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

1. She believes that ghosts really do exist.
2. It's the largest galaxy known to exist.
3. Does life exist on Mars?
4. The Internet didn't exist then.
5. We shouldn't ignore the problems that exist in our own community.
6. Racism still exists in our society.
7. The organization may soon cease to exist if more funding isn't provided.

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

Related Words: abide, continue, endure, hold on, hold up, keep (on), kick, last, lead, persist, rule, run on, survive; move; flourish, prosper, thrive

Near Antonyms: disappear, evaporate, vanish; cease, desist, discontinue, end, quit, stop; abate, die (down), ebb, let up, moderate, subside, wane

[+]more[-]hide

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