Existence Meaning
/ɛɡˈzɪs.təns/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe state of being, existing, or occurring; beinghood.
nounEmpirical reality; the substance of the physical universe. (Dictionary of Philosophy; 1968)
Sentence Examples
Heat and light are necessary for our existence.
Malaysia came into existence in 1957.
I was unaware of his existence until today.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The scientist debated the ____ of extraterrestrial life anywhere in the universe.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Scientists are searching for evidence to prove the ____ of water on the distant planet.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English existence, from Old French existence, from Late Latin existentia (“existence”), from existēns, from existō, exsistō (“I am, I exist”), from ex (“out”) + sistere (“to set, place”) (related to stare (“to stand, to be stood”)), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *stísteh₂ti, from the root *steh₂- (“stand”). Cognate with Spanish existencia, French existence, German Existenz. Morphologically exist + -ence.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Fortunate it is for the tranquillity of the new-born infant, if he have any turn for philosophy, that he understands none of the nonsense consecrated by old usage to the commencement of existence."
— 1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter VIII, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume II, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), →OCLC, page 71:
"However, with the dainty volume my quondam friend sprang into fame. At the same time he cast off the chrysalis of a commonplace existence."
— 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter I, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC:
"The physics of elementary particles in the 20th century was distinguished by the observation of particles whose existence had been predicted by theorists sometimes decades earlier."
— 2012 March-April, Jeremy Bernstein, “A Palette of Particles”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 146:
"The ancients said, “A ruler should exist for the existence of the people.” The famous thinker, Mencius noted, “The people are the most valuable, then the country, and the ruler comes last.”"
— 2020 June 29, Wendi, “The Loyal General Yue Fei”, in Minghui:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The scientist debated the ____ of extraterrestrial life anywhere in the universe.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Scientists are searching for evidence to prove the ____ of water on the distant planet.