existent
- 01 C1 Advanced
adj.real or currently in being, rather than imagined or planned.
adj.having actual being; currently existing or occurring in reality. Often used in formal or academic contexts to contrast with potential or hypothetical states.
Simple“The law only applies to existent companies, not those that are still being planned.”
In context“The researcher argued that we must address existent social inequalities before we can implement the proposed economic reforms.”
UsageUsually placed before the noun it describes.
Antonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
n.something that exists as its own separate thing.
n.an entity or being that has independent existence. This sense is largely restricted to philosophical texts.
Simple“The philosopher wrote about the difference between a thought and a physical existent.”
In context“In his early metaphysical treatises, he categorised every physical existent as a manifestation of a higher spiritual order.”
Teacher's tipThis noun sense is very rare in modern English; learners will almost exclusively encounter 'existent' as an adjective.
From Latin existens, from existere.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.