existence
ehg-ZIHS-tuhns
Existence (noun) means the fact or state of being real or of occurring. Example: “The existence of the ancient city was confirmed by satellite imagery.”
noun
1
The fact or state of being real or of occurring.
"In order to destroy evil, we must first acknowledge its existence."
"The ancients said, “A ruler should exist for the existence of the people.” The famous thinker, Mencius noted, “The people are the most valuable, then the country, and the ruler comes last.”"
— Wendi, The Loyal General Yue Fei (2020)
"The existence of the ancient city was confirmed by satellite imagery."
"The physics of elementary particles in the 20th century was distinguished by the observation of particles whose existence had been predicted by theorists sometimes decades earlier."
— , A Palette of Particles (2012)
"Nobody doubted the existence of the small village."
"Scientists are searching for proof of the existence of life on other planets."
2
A way or manner of life.
"They led a quiet, simple existence in the countryside."
"She dreamed of escaping her dull existence in the city."
"Life on the boat was a simple, happy existence."
How to use existence
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe state of being real, or the way someone lives their life.
Common pairings
come into existence
go out of existence
a miserable existence
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Word forms
- Plural
- existences
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The _____ of the ancient city was confirmed by satellite imagery.
Etymology
From Old French existence, ultimately from Latin existere, "to come into being" — built from ex- ("out") plus sistere ("to stand").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for existence
See all rhymes for existence →Frequently asked questions
What does “existence” mean?
The word “existence” means the fact or state of being real or of occurring. In plain terms, the state of being real, or the way someone lives their life.
How do you pronounce “existence”?
“Existence” is pronounced ehg-ZIHS-tuhns (/ɛɡˈzɪs.təns/ in IPA).
How do you use “existence” in a sentence?
Here is “existence” used in a sentence: “The existence of the ancient city was confirmed by satellite imagery.”
What is another word for “existence”?
Words with a similar meaning to “existence” include being, beinghood, beingness, hereness, dasein and subsistence.
What is the opposite of “existence”?
The opposite of “existence” — its antonyms — are nonexistence, nothingness and inexistence.
What part of speech is “existence”?
“Existence” is a noun.
Where does the word “existence” come from?
The word “existence” comes from Latin. From Old French existence, ultimately from Latin existere, "to come into being" — built from ex- ("out") plus sistere ("to stand").
Is “existence” a common word?
“Existence” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between existence and being?
Existence is the plain fact that something is real or occurs, that it is there at all. Being is a more abstract, philosophical idea concerning the nature of what exists. You might say a rock has existence, while questions about being ask what it means for anything to exist in the first place.
What is the opposite of existence?
The direct opposite is nonexistence, the state of not being real or not occurring. Related ideas include nothingness, absence, and oblivion. Where existence means that something is present in reality, its opposite covers everything that never was, has ceased to be, or exists only in the imagination.
Why is existence important in philosophy?
Existence sits at the heart of metaphysics, the branch of philosophy that asks what is real and why anything exists at all. Thinkers have long debated the existence of the self, the universe, and a higher power. These questions shape how we understand reality, meaning, and our own place within it.
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