exist
gb/ɪɡzˈɪst/ us/ɪɡzˈɪst/
A2
Anglais
~ 900
Sens
0 sens
Verbe
A2
state
1
to have actual being
To be real or to be present in the world.
Schéma d’usage :
[something] exists
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'exist' with 'live'. 'Live' refers to being alive, while 'exist' is broader and can apply to non-living things.
Synonymes
be (More general and can refer to states or identity, not just existence.)
|
survive (Implies continuing to exist despite danger or hardship.)
Antonymes
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
Thèmes
philosophy
|science
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Cats exist in many countries.
- Some old buildings still exist.
- Ghosts do not exist.
- Many animals exist in the forest.
Verbe
B1
action
2
to stay alive
To stay alive, usually when life is hard.
Schéma d’usage :
[someone] exists on [something]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may overuse 'exist' instead of 'live' when talking about normal life; 'exist' often implies harsh or minimal conditions.
Synonymes
survive (More common in everyday speech for continuing to live.)
Antonymes
die (To stop living; opposite of continuing to live.)
Collocations
barely exist
|exist on bread and water
|exist in poverty
Thèmes
survival
|daily life
|health
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- They existed on very little food during the war.
- Some people exist in extreme poverty.
- The prisoners barely existed through the harsh winter.
Exemples pédagogiques
- They exist on little money.
- The fish can exist in cold water.
- We existed on bread and tea.
Verbe
formal
B2
state
3
to be present somewhere
To be found or be present in a place or situation.
Schéma d’usage :
[something] exists in/within [place/context]
Synonymes
occur (Focuses more on happening rather than ongoing presence.)
|
be present (Plain description of being there at that time.)
Antonymes
be absent (Not present in a given place or situation.)
Collocations
exist within a system
|exist between groups
|conditions that exist
Thèmes
science
|geography
|space
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- Several problems exist within the current system.
- Different customs exist between the two regions.
- Opportunities exist for further research.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Many jobs exist in the city.
- Different plants exist in this garden.
- A problem exists in our plan.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
exist
API
GB/ɪɡzˈɪst/
US/ɪɡzˈɪst/
Syllabes et accentuation
ex - ist (2 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ist)
Formes du mot
Verb
- Base: exist
- 3rd Person Singular: exists
- Present Participle: existing
- Past: existed
Famille de mots
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.
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples
- Different cultures can exist side by side in harmony.
- Wildlife and humans now exist side by side in this park.