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.
The scary mommy has been an archetype in storytelling for as long as stories have existed.
From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2026
Fraternities, and sororities, have existed for a very long time, including when I went to school more than 50 years ago.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
For over five decades, there have existed two types of movie lover: those who have been at least a little corrupted by Ken Russell’s 1971 iconoclasterpiece “The Devils” and those who haven’t seen it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026
Manicures have been whispering messages about the wearer's position in society for as long as they have existed, according to fashion journalist Suzanne E. Shapiro.
From BBC ● Sep. 25, 2026
Of the billions and billions of species of living thing that have existed since the dawn of time, most–99.99 percent–are no longer around.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
