existence

noun

eg-ZIS-tuhns/ɛɡˈzɪs.təns/UKig-ZIS-tuhns/ɪɡˈzɪs.təns/

2 meanings of existence

1
being realnoununcountable
The state of being, existing, or actually occurring in the world.
Astronomers have found no proof of the existence of life elsewhere in the galaxy.
The treaty brought a new nation into existence almost overnight.
UsageCommon patterns: the existence of something, in existence, come into existence, bring something into existence.
Similarpresence, being
Oppositenonexistence, absence
2
physical worldnoununcountable
Everything that exists, taken as a whole; all of reality.
Materialist philosophers argue that existence consists only of matter and energy.
For the strict empiricist, existence is whatever can be measured or observed.
Similarreality, universe, world

Practice

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Origin

This word came through Middle English and Old French from Late Latin existentia, based on the Latin verb existō ("I am, I exist"), formed from ex ("out") plus sistere ("to set, place"), which is related to stare ("to stand"). It ultimately traces back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "stand."

Checked 7 Nov 2026 · 5 facts

The word passed through Middle English and Old French from Late Latin existentia. en.wiktionary.org
The Latin noun derives from existō, meaning 'I am, I exist'. en.wiktionary.org
The verb combines ex, meaning 'out', with sistere, meaning 'to set, place'. en.wiktionary.org
Sistere is related to stare, meaning 'to stand'. en.wiktionary.org
The ultimate root is Proto-Indo-European *steh₂-, meaning 'stand'. en.wiktionary.org