TKG English Learner's Dictionary

exist

existverb

American /ɪɡ.ˈzɪst/ British /ɪɡ.ˈzɪst/ The stress is on the second part: ig-ZIST. The x is said like gz.
third-person singular exists past tense existed past participle existed present participle existing
very commondefining vocabulary

  1. be realbe real, or be present in the world or in a particular place

    intransitive [I] not used in continuous tenses [no continuous] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep]

    Collocations

    adverb + verb still exist, no longer exist, really exist, already exist
    verb + preposition exist in, exist between

    Synonyms be

  2. stay alivestay alive, especially with very little food or money

    intransitive [I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj]

    Collocations

    verb + preposition exist on something, exist without something

    Synonyms survive

Word family

  • existence
  • existing

Common mistakes

Exist many ways to learn a language. There are many ways to learn a language.
To say that something is present, English usually uses there is or there are, not exist at the start.
The problem is still existing. The problem still exists.
Exist is not usually used in the continuous.

For translators

Grammar trap "exist" is rarely used in the continuous. To say that something is present, everyday English prefers there is or there are: There are many ways, not Exist many ways.