existence
Americannoun
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the fact or state of existing; being
-
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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
See Examples For:
We get more shivers from a glimpse of a very young Jay nervously calling his father “Sir” than we do from Brolin barking caricature-style that “There’s more to existence than fun!”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026
Reports have painted a picture of a decidedly low-key existence for the actor on the island, with Carrey spending his time reading, writing, walking, painting, and sketching.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
How do Facebook, Instagram and all of Zuck’s other spawn remain integral parts of our lives until we die if users eventually get weary enough to figure out their existence is better off without them?
From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026
He’s the one American wanderer who escapes Pamplona alone, returning to that same existence that he once found so commonplace.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
He knew that they weren’t going to communicate to confirm the existence of the project.
From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young
Sold as the ultimate work-life balance, the firm's brain microchip procedure splits a person's consciousness and memory into dual existences.
From BBC ● Jan. 17, 2025
We have given the keys to our once-private analog existences over to the wealthiest companies in human history.
From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2024
Locals and tourists often lead separate but parallel existences, more or less ignoring one another’s presence.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2024
Which even the military ended because it called on gay people to deny or hide their existences.
From Seattle Times ● May 8, 2024
Did the birds’ insignificant little existences have any meaning at all?
From "Touching Spirit Bear" by Ben Mikaelsen
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
