verb
exist
ihg-ZIHST
verb
1
To be real; to have actual being.
"Scientists still debate whether life exists elsewhere in the universe."
"That law no longer exists — it was repealed years ago."
How to Use Exist
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo be real or to be present in the world.
Common pairings
cease to exist
continue to exist
exist independently
Word Forms
existed past tense, exist plural, existed plural, exists singular, exist singular, existed singular, existest singular, existedst singular, existeth singular
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Scientists still debate whether life _____ elsewhere in the universe.
Etymology
From Latin exsistere, "to come into being, appear," from ex- ("out") plus sistere ("to stand, place").