existence

[ ig-zis-tuh ns ]

/ ɪgˈzɪs təns /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR existence ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the state or fact of existing; being.

continuance in being or life; life: a struggle for existence.

mode of existing: They were working for a better existence.

all that exists: Existence shows a universal order.

something that exists; entity; being.

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL PUNCTUATION!

Commas mark divisions in sentences. Periods end declarative sentences. Apostrophes show possession. Easy, right? Well, punctuation can get pretty tricky—fast. Think you got what it takes to be a punctuation expert? Take our quiz to prove it!

Question 1 of 10

Which of the options below is the best punctuation for the sentence? It__s your turn to pick the movie __ but your sister gets to pick the board game we _ re going to play.

Its your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie but your sister gets to pick the board game were going to play.

It’s your turn to pick the movie, but your sister gets to pick the board game we’re going to play.

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Origin of existence

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Late Latin word ex(s)istentia. See exist, -ence

OTHER WORDS FROM existence

post·ex·ist·ence, noun

Words nearby existence

exile, exilic, eximious, exine, exist, existence, existence theorem, existent, existential, existential psychology, existential quantifier

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for existence

I am so sorry that your parents did this to you, developing their own discriminatory take on your existence.
Dear Leelah, We Will Fight On For You: A Letter to a Dead Trans Teen|Parker Molloy|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
That user's posts were being wiped completely from existence.
China’s Internet Is Freer Than You Think|Brendon Hong|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Beech-Nut is still in existence, and is the third largest baby food manufacturer in the United States.
The Flying Sorcery of Dr. Strange: Benedict Cumberbatch Is Marvel's Most Bizarre Magician|Rich Goldstein|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“What they are really doing is justifying their existence,” Banes said.
Special Forces’ $77M ‘Hustler’ Hits Back|Kevin Maurer|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The cities of the heartland came into existence, first and foremost, as economic entities.
The Rustbelt Roars Back From the Dead|Joel Kotkin, Richey Piiparinen|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They dare not let you live, for your existence spells their doom.
Under the Witches' Moon|Nathan Gallizier
In other forms the union of the grains by a calcareous or ferruginous cement necessitates the existence of distinct pylomes.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 6|Various
The chair slowly and quite naturally was dropping out of existence.
Carriages & Coaches|Ralph Straus
It supposes in that to which it is applied a present existence; and is the negation of a beginning or of an end of that existence.
Pearls of Thought|Maturin M. Ballou
How absurd would it be then to argue against the existence of customs or facts, from the silence of such scanty records as these!
Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, Volume I (of 3)|Thomas Percy

British Dictionary definitions for existence

existence

/ (ɪɡˈzɪstəns) /

noun

the fact or state of existing; being

the continuance or maintenance of life; living, esp in adverse circumstancesa struggle for existence; she has a wretched existence

something that exists; a being or entity

everything that exists, esp that is living

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

existence

noun

QUIZZES

TAKE THIS QUIZ TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL PUNCTUATION!

Origin of existence

OTHER WORDS FROM existence

Words nearby existence

Words related to existence

Example sentences from the Web for existence

British Dictionary definitions for existence

noun