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

The joy of money comes from that feeling of being untethered, no longer constrained by the limits of a paycheck-to-paycheck existence. —Melissa Houston, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024

Photo : Alex Lawrence 2003: The first Continental GT breaks the mold at Bentley For the first 84 years of the company’s existence, Bentley’s cars were made the old-fashioned way — coach built by hand. —Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2024

This series serves as a duality of existence–that there is a continuum in these spaces, which also, challenges stereotypes about the Black experience–especially my experience of growing up in the suburbs of Southfield, Michigan in Metro Detroit. —Caterina De Biasio, Vogue, 25 Sep. 2024

But, despite the best efforts of the characters to disown and ignore their physical forms, their bodies stubbornly reassert their existence. —Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 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