existence
Americannoun
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the fact or state of existing; being
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the continuance or maintenance of life; living, esp in adverse circumstances
a struggle for existence
she has a wretched existence
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something that exists; a being or entity
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everything that exists, esp that is living
Other Word Forms
- postexistence noun
Etymology
Origin of existence
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Late Latin word ex(s)istentia. See exist, -ence
Explanation
Existence is the state of being alive or being real. For example, you and your best friend disagree about the existence of Bigfoot if you think it's real and your friend doesn't. The noun existence can be used many different ways, but it always has to do with being alive or with simply "being". You can talk about the survival of something as its existence, like your yo-yo club having lost so many members that its existence is in danger. The particular way you live is another meaning of existence; if you live a quiet, lonely life in the country, you could describe it as a solitary existence.
Vocabulary lists containing existence
Commonly Misspelled Words, List 1
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List 2
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List 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Six months ago we were questioning the company’s existence, but they now seem to have turned an important corner,” Goldberg wrote.
From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026
Confirming the existence of these networks presented a major challenge.
From Science Daily • Apr. 10, 2026
The work of existence is to discover “where in one’s life resistance works, and what, when it does work, it works in the service of.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
"It is a black day for Romania and for world football. A man who lived through and for football in every second of his existence has left us," said Romanian Football Federation president Razvan Burleanu.
From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026
What else would explain the resemblance, the shared name, the existence of that box?
From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
