exist
pronunciation
How to pronounce exist in British English:
UK [ɪɡˈzɪst]
How to pronounce exist in American English:
US [ɪɡˈzɪst]
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- Verb:
- have an existence, be extant
- support oneself
Word Origin
- exist
- exist: [17] The ‘existential’ use of exist is a secondary development; to begin with it had the more concrete meaning ‘stand out, so as to be perceptible’. It comes from Latin existere, a compound verb formed from the prefix ex- ‘out’ and sistere ‘be placed, stand firm or still’ (a distant relative of English stand). Its original sense ‘stand out, stand forth’ developed through ‘emerge’ and ‘be visible’ to ‘exist’. The available evidence suggests that it entered English at a surprisingly late date, some centuries after the derivative existence [14] (of which the English verb may be a backformation).=> stand, statue
- exist (v.)
- c. 1600, from French exister (17c.), from Latin existere/exsistere "to step out, stand forth, emerge, appear; exist, be" (see existence). "The late appearance of the word is remarkable" [OED]. Related: Existed; existing.
Example
- 1. They are things that already exist .
- 2. Dozens of such groups exist in china .
- 3. Many exist happily within boundaries shared with other nations .
- 4. That 's what I offer in paid to exist .
- 5. We exist in an invisible passage of time .