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Definition of exist verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

exist

verb
 
/ɪɡˈzɪst/
 
/ɪɡˈzɪst/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they exist
 
/ɪɡˈzɪst/
 
/ɪɡˈzɪst/
he / she / it exists
 
/ɪɡˈzɪsts/
 
/ɪɡˈzɪsts/
past simple existed
 
/ɪɡˈzɪstɪd/
 
/ɪɡˈzɪstɪd/
past participle existed
 
/ɪɡˈzɪstɪd/
 
/ɪɡˈzɪstɪd/
-ing form existing
 
/ɪɡˈzɪstɪŋ/
 
/ɪɡˈzɪstɪŋ/
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  1. [intransitive] (not used in the progressive tenses) to be real; to be present in a place or situation
    • Does life exist on other planets?
    • Few of these monkeys still exist in the wild.
    • Major differences continue to exist between the two countries.
    • A solution has been found and the problem no longer exists.
    • On his retirement the post will cease to exist.
    • Adequate facilities already exist to serve the needs of people visiting the town.
    • It is an art gallery that exists only on the internet.
    • Evidence of their relationship exists in the form of a series of letters.
    • I didn't think people like that existed any more.
    • exist to do something The charity exists to support victims of crime.
    see also pre-exist
    Extra Examples
    • I'm beginning to see that the problem only exists in my head.
    • The technology did not yet exist.
    • He argued that ideas do not exist independently of the language that expresses them.
    • They appear to exist in significant numbers.
    • companies that exist solely for the purpose of mortgage lending
    • the enormous volcanoes now known to exist on Mars
    • A temple existed here hundreds of years ago.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • actually
    • really
    • already
    verb + exist
    • be known to
    • appear to
    • be believed to
    See full entry
  2. [intransitive] exist (on something) to live, especially in a difficult situation or with very little money
    • We existed on a diet of rice.
    • We can't exist on the money I'm earning.
  3. Word Originearly 17th cent.: probably a back-formation from existence.
See exist in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee exist in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

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