ENGLISH
REFERENCE

exist

v.
A2 Elementary Oxford US //ɪɡˈzɪst// UK //ɛɡzˈɪst// ex·ist General-service

v. to be real or to live. You use this to say that something is actually here in the world and is not just an idea or a dream.

v. to have objective reality or being; to live or have life. Intransitive — does not take a direct object.


SIMPLE

Do you believe that ghosts exist?

CONTEXTUAL

Scientists are still searching for evidence to prove that life could exist on other planets in our solar system.

COMPLEX

While many ancient traditions exist only in history books today, some remote communities continue to practice these rituals exactly as their ancestors did centuries ago.

Synonyms
Origin

From French exister, from Latin existō, exsistō (“I am, I exist, appear, arise”), from ex (“out”) + sistere (“to set, place”) (related to stare (“to stand, to be stood”)), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European stísteh₂ti, from the root steh₂- (“stand”); see stand. Compare assist, consist, desist, insist, persist, resist. Cognate with Spanish existir, French exister, Italian esistere, German existieren.

Usage

The verb is intransitive and cannot be used in the passive voice.

Pitfall

The problem is existed since last yearThe problem has existed since last yearExist is an intransitive verb and cannot be used in the passive voice; it describes a state, not an action performed on an object.

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