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

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

When you subsist on crumbs for long enough, you learn to make a meal out of them.

From Salon • Jun. 3, 2025

Famine has already been declared in one area - many others subsist on the brink of starvation not knowing where their next meal will come from.

From BBC • Nov. 27, 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