English Reference
Verb

coexist

v.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˌkoʊəɡˈzɪst/ UK /kˌəʊɛɡzˈɪst/ co·ex·ist UK spelling coexisted, coexisting, coexists

v.to live or exist in the same place at the same time without fighting or causing problems.

v.to exist together at the same time or in the same place, especially in a state of mutual tolerance or peace.


SIMPLE

Different species of birds coexist peacefully in this forest.

CONTEXTUAL

The two political parties must find a way to coexist if the new government is to function effectively.

COMPLEX

Historians often study how diverse religious groups managed to coexist within the empire for centuries despite significant cultural and theological differences.

Usage

The verb is intransitive and frequently takes the preposition 'with'.

When two communities with different languages need to communicate to trade or simply coexist, a simplified version of language emerges known as a pidgin.

Phys.org· 12 Aug 2026

The past whispers to the present; the dead and living coexist.

The Guardian· 10 Aug 2026

From co- + exist. Compare Latin coexsistō.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated