exist
gb/ɪɡzˈɪst/ us/ɪɡzˈɪst/
A2
English
~ 900
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
state
1
to have actual being
To be real or to be present in the world.
Usage pattern:
[something] exists
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'exist' with 'live'. 'Live' refers to being alive, while 'exist' is broader and can apply to non-living things.
Synonyms
be (More general and can refer to states or identity, not just existence.)
|
survive (Implies continuing to exist despite danger or hardship.)
Antonyms
not exist (Direct opposite meaning: to have no reality or presence.)
|
perish (To stop existing, especially through death or destruction.)
Collocations
exist in reality
|exist today
|still exist
|exist independently
Themes
philosophy
|science
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Dinosaurs no longer exist.
- Many species exist only in remote areas.
- The possibility of life on other planets may exist.
- Does true love really exist?
- These traditions still exist in rural communities.
Learner examples
- Cats exist in many countries.
- Some old buildings still exist.
- Ghosts do not exist.
- Many animals exist in the forest.
Verb
B1
action
2
to stay alive
To stay alive, usually when life is hard.
Usage pattern:
[someone] exists on [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'exist' instead of 'live' when talking about normal life; 'exist' often implies harsh or minimal conditions.
Synonyms
survive (More common in everyday speech for continuing to live.)
Antonyms
die (To stop living; opposite of continuing to live.)
Collocations
barely exist
|exist on bread and water
|exist in poverty
Themes
survival
|daily life
|health
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They existed on very little food during the war.
- Some people exist in extreme poverty.
- The prisoners barely existed through the harsh winter.
Learner examples
- They exist on little money.
- The fish can exist in cold water.
- We existed on bread and tea.
Verb
formal
B2
state
3
to be present somewhere
To be found or be present in a place or situation.
Usage pattern:
[something] exists in/within [place/context]
Synonyms
occur (Focuses more on happening rather than ongoing presence.)
|
be present (Plain description of being there at that time.)
Antonyms
be absent (Not present in a given place or situation.)
Collocations
exist within a system
|exist between groups
|conditions that exist
Themes
science
|geography
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Several problems exist within the current system.
- Different customs exist between the two regions.
- Opportunities exist for further research.
Learner examples
- Many jobs exist in the city.
- Different plants exist in this garden.
- A problem exists in our plan.
Grammar
Dictionary form
exist
IPA
GB/ɪɡzˈɪst/
US/ɪɡzˈɪst/
Syllables & stress
ex - ist (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ist)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: exist
- 3rd Person Singular: exists
- Present Participle: existing
- Past: existed
Word family
Forms
exists
verb
existing
verb
existed
verb
Core family
existence
noun B1
Related words
coexist
verb
coexistence
noun
Negative and opposite forms
nonexistent
adjective
nonexistence
noun
Advanced or less common
existent
adjective
existential
adjective C1
Expressions
exist on borrowed time
1/ɪɡzˈɪst ˈɔn bˈɑɹoʊd tˈaɪm/
idiom
to live longer than expected
To continue to live or work after the time you were expected to stop or die.
Examples
- After the diagnosis, he felt like he was existing on borrowed time.
- The old bridge is existing on borrowed time before it collapses.
exist side by side
1/ɪɡzˈɪst sˈaɪd bˈaɪ sˈaɪd/
fixed phrase
to be together peacefully
To be in the same place at the same time without problems, even if different.
Examples
- Different cultures can exist side by side in harmony.
- Wildlife and humans now exist side by side in this park.