exist
verb (used without object)
to have actual being; be.
have existed
-
present perfectof exist.present perfect
Used to describe actions that started in the past and continue into or have direct relevance to the present.
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.
Conditions like these may have existed in the early universe, shortly after the Big Bang, when matter and energy were packed into an intensely chaotic environment.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026
“At its core, this program wouldn’t have existed 30 years ago,” said Harvard University real-estate professor Avis Devine.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
Pro softball leagues have existed since 1976, but they have lacked the visibility and accessibility imperative to flourishing and gaining popularity.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
Plagues have existed throughout history, said Heeney, from the Black Death of the Middle Ages ages to the 1918-20 influenza pandemic which killed an estimated 25-50 million globally.
From Barron's ● Jun. 25, 2026
If Francis had gone along, no such ambiguity would have existed.
From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson
