subsist

American  

[suhb-sist] / səbˈsɪst /

verb (used without object)

1. to exist; continue in existence.

2. to remain alive; live, as on food, resources, etc.

3. to have existence in, or by reason of, something.

4. to reside, lie, or consist (usually followed byin ).

5. Philosophy.

   1. to have timeless or abstract existence, as a number, relation, etc.

   2. to have existence, especially independent existence.

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verb (used with object)

1. to provide sustenance or support for; maintain.

subsist British  

/ səbˈsɪst /

verb

1. (often foll by on) to be sustained; manage to live

   to subsist on milk

2. to continue in existence

3. (foll by in) to lie or reside by virtue (of); consist

4. philosophy

   1. to exist as a concept or relation rather than a fact

   2. to be conceivable

5. obsolete (tr) to provide with support

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Other Word Forms

• presubsist verb (used without object)
• self-subsisting adjective
• subsistent adjective
• subsister noun
• subsistingly adverb
• supersubsist verb (used without object)

Etymology

Origin of subsist

1540–50; < Latin subsistere to remain, equivalent to sub- sub- + sistere to stand, make stand; stand

Explanation

When you subsist, you keep yourself alive. Since most airlines have stopped serving food, many travelers are forced to subsist on little packets of pretzels, even on long flights. To subsist is to feed yourself, or keep yourself going, especially when you just barely manage to do so. A hunger striker might subsist on only water for weeks, and people in developing countries often have to subsist on small rations of rice or grain. Subsist comes from the Latin word subsistere, "to stand firm," but sometimes subsisting makes people feel like they are barely standing, rather than firmly standing.

Example Sentences

Per capita disposable income in cities is less than $700 a month, while in the countryside as many as several hundred million people subsist on just a few dollars each day.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

Those who subsist on the fringes of the Vegas tourism orbit are aware that they are in a funk but are nonetheless powerless to fix it.

From Slate • Nov. 18, 2025

Many of them eat only one meal a day and subsist on high energy biscuits given by the charity, she said.

From BBC • May 23, 2025

With starters dominating the live reps during practice, scout team players subsist on mental reps to stay ready for their opportunities.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 6, 2024

She began to subsist on a diet of raita and Triscuits.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri

Related Words

• get along
• get by
• scrape by