existence

noun

ex·​is·​tence ig-ˈzi-stən(t)s 

1

a

: the state or fact of having being especially independently of human consciousness and as contrasted with nonexistence

the existence of other worlds

b

: the manner of being that is common to every mode of being

c

: being with respect to a limiting condition or under a particular aspect

2

: actual or present occurrence

existence of a state of war

3

a(1)

: the totality of existent things

(2)

: a particular being

all the fair existences of heaven

—John Keats

b

: sentient or living being : life

c

: reality as presented in experience

d

obsolete : reality as opposed to appearance

Synonyms

• actuality
• corporality
• corporeality
• reality
• subsistence
• thingness

Examples of existence in a Sentence

She began to doubt the existence of God.

the existence of UFO's is something that people continue to argue about

Recent Examples on the Web

If emissions continue at their current trajectory, about one in twenty could blip out of existence. —Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 7 Dec. 2024

Subsequent attempts to access the page by Newsweek confirmed the issue, while a search using the Wayback Machine internet archive also confirmed the page's previous existence. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024

Offering support at key moments is a knowing, keen-eyed librarian (Jessica Harper), a mysterious book about the hidden history of magical women, and suddenly clearer memories of her devoted mom (Kerry O’Malley), who may have had her own privately liberating nocturnal existence. —Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 6 Dec. 2024

This thing has become the bane of my existence ... GREWAL takes it and places it on her mobile desktop. —Ayad Akhtar, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Middle French existence, existance, borrowed from Late Latin existentia, exsistentia, noun derivative of existent-, existens/exsistent-, exsistens "having being, existent"

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3d

Phrases Containing existence

• come into existence
• go out of existence
• struggle for existence

Kids Definition

existence

noun

ex·​ist·​ence

ig-ˈzis-tən(t)s

1

: the fact or the state of having being or of being real

the largest animal in existence

2

: the state of being alive : life

owed my existence to a doctor's skill