Exist

To have actual being; to be real or present, To live or have one's being; to be alive, To be present under specific conditions or in a particular place

Exist - Meanings

To have actual being; to be real or present

Example: Unicorns do not exist in the real world.

Usage: formalContext: academic discussions, philosophical debates

Note: Often used in abstract or theoretical contexts.

To live or have one's being; to be alive

Example: Despite his illness, he continued to exist for several more years.

Usage: formalContext: medical or existential discussions

Note: Can be used in discussions about life and death.

To be present under specific conditions or in a particular place

Example: The documents exist in the archives of the museum.

Usage: formalContext: archival, historical, or legal contexts

Note: Commonly used to refer to the physical presence or availability of something.

Exist's synonyms

be

To 'be' means to exist or live.

Example: I am a teacher.

Note: Can be used more broadly to indicate existence or identity.

live

To 'live' means to be alive or have life.

Example: Many species of animals live in the rainforest.

Note: Specifically refers to being alive or residing in a particular place.

reside

To 'reside' means to live in a particular place.

Example: She resides in a small town in the countryside.

Note: Emphasizes the act of living in a specific location.

dwell

To 'dwell' means to live in a particular place or stay for a long time.

Example: The tribe used to dwell in the valley.

Note: Often used in a more poetic or formal context.

occupy

To 'occupy' means to reside or inhabit a place.

Example: The building has been occupied by squatters.

Note: Can imply taking possession or control of a space.

Exist expressions, common phrases

to be in existence

This phrase means to be currently existing or present.

Example: The ancient ruins are still in existence today.

Note: Slightly more formal than just saying 'exist.'

to come into existence

This phrase refers to something beginning to exist or be created.

Example: The new law will come into existence next month.

Note: Indicates the specific moment or process of starting to exist.

to cease to exist

This phrase means to stop existing or to disappear.

Example: The company ceased to exist after the economic downturn.

Note: Emphasizes the end or disappearance of existence.

to exist on a shoestring

This phrase means to survive or manage with very little resources.

Example: As a startup, they exist on a shoestring budget.

Note: Highlights the idea of surviving or managing with limited means.

to exist by the skin of one's teeth

This phrase means to barely survive or succeed in a difficult situation.

Example: He narrowly escaped the accident, existing by the skin of his teeth.

Note: Emphasizes the close call or narrow margin of survival.

to exist in a vacuum

This phrase means to be isolated or considered without context.

Example: The decision cannot exist in a vacuum; it affects many other departments.

Note: Implies being considered separately from other factors or influences.

to exist on borrowed time

This phrase means to continue to survive despite being expected to fail soon.

Example: The old building is so dilapidated; it's existing on borrowed time.

Note: Indicates a temporary extension of existence beyond what is expected.

Exist everyday (slang) expressions

existential crisis

An existential crisis refers to a moment of intense self-examination where a person questions their own existence, purpose, and meaning in life.

Example: After failing his exam, Mark went through an existential crisis, questioning the purpose of his existence.

Note: This slang term focuses on a deep internal questioning of one's existence, going beyond the simple act of existing.

existing on fumes

To exist on fumes means to barely have enough resources, energy, or motivation to continue existing or functioning.

Example: With only a few dollars left in his bank account, Sarah was existing on fumes until her next paycheck.

Note: This phrase emphasizes the struggle of barely being able to sustain oneself, likening it to running on empty or fumes.

hanging by a thread

To be hanging by a thread means to be in a precarious or vulnerable position, with a small chance of surviving or continuing to exist.

Example: The company's finances are hanging by a thread, and without a new investor, it may cease to exist.

Note: While 'exist' refers to simply being in a state of being, 'hanging by a thread' implies a critical situation verging on collapse or extinction.

living existence

Living existence refers to the act of enduring or persevering through life in a modest or humble manner, focusing on survival rather than thriving.

Example: Albert led a meager living existence in a small village, content with the simple pleasures of life.

Note: This term adds emphasis to the experience of living, highlighting the day-to-day struggle and survival aspect of existence.

Exist - Examples

There exists a solution to this problem.

The unicorn does not exist in reality.

The possibility of life on other planets exists.

Exist grammar

Exist - Verb (Verb) / Verb, base form (Verb, base form)

Lemma: exist

Conjugations

Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): existed

Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): existing

Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): exists

Verb, base form (Verb, base form): exist

Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): exist

Syllabification and Stress

exist Contains 2 syllables: ex • ist

Phonetic transcription: ig-ˈzist

ex ist , ig ˈzist (The red syllable is stressed)

Exist - Importance and usage frequency

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.

exist: 800 - 900 (Extremely common).

This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.

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