subsist

verb

sub·​sist səb-ˈsist 

subsisted; subsisting; subsists

intransitive verb

1

a

: to have existence : be

b

: persist, continue

2

: to have or acquire the necessities of life (such as food and clothing)

especially : to nourish oneself

subsisting on roots, berries and grubs

3

a

: to hold true

b

: to be logically conceivable as the subject of true statements

transitive verb

: to support with provisions

Synonyms

• be
• breathe
• exist
• live

Examples of subsist in a Sentence

The author's right to royalties shall subsist for the term of the copyright.

a love that was as great as any that ever did subsist

Recent Examples on the Web

Studies of the remains of our forebears, as well as observations of living primates and modern-day hunter-gatherers, refute the idea that humans evolved to subsist primarily on animals. —Kate Wong, Scientific American, 25 June 2024

Residents were not allowed to eat any meat, vegetables, or dairy and subsisted primarily off of rice pudding and peanut butter. —Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 17 June 2024

Author: Alexander Hamilton To the People of the State of New York: AFTER an unequivocal experience of the inefficiency of the subsisting federal government, you are called upon to deliberate on a new Constitution for the United States of America. —Liz Tracey, JSTOR Daily, 30 May 2024

Remember, no one can subsist only on popcorn, even during the warmer weeks. —A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 20 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin subsistere to exist, from Latin, to come to a halt, remain, from sub- + sistere to come to a stand; akin to Latin stare to stand — more at stand

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing subsist

• subsist on

Kids Definition

subsist

verb

sub·​sist səb-ˈsist 

1

: to have or continue to have existence : be, persist

2

: to have or get the necessities of life (as food and clothing)

especially : to nourish oneself

subsisting on roots and berries