existence
B2Formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
The state of being alive or present in the real world.
The state or fact of being; the way of living; continued survival; something that exists as a separate entity.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an abstract, uncountable noun referring to the state of being. Can be used countably in specific contexts (e.g., 'a miserable existence') to describe a particular way or mode of life.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or form. 'Existence' is universally used in both varieties. Minor potential differences in collocational frequency (e.g., 'prove the existence of' vs. 'prove existence of') are negligible.
Connotations
Neutral in both. The word itself carries no regional connotation.
Frequency
Comparably frequent in both BrE and AmE corpus data.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[existence of + NP][existence + relative clause (that...)][adjectival modifier + existence]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a hand-to-mouth existence”
- “a battle for existence”
- “cease to exist (related)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in discussions about company viability, e.g., 'The start-up's continued existence depends on the next funding round.'
Academic
Common in philosophy, science, and social sciences to discuss ontological status, e.g., 'The study questions the existence of a universal moral framework.'
Everyday
Used to talk about life circumstances or the fact that something is real, e.g., 'I had no idea this little cafe existed!'
Technical
In mathematics/logic: 'proof of existence'; in physics/cosmology: 'the existence of dark matter'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The law exists to protect citizens.
- Do you believe ghosts exist?
American English
- That policy no longer exists.
- Does life exist on other planets?
adverb
British English
- The species exists purely in captivity now.
- These rules existentially define the game.
American English
- The problem exists mainly in older models.
- He approached the issue existentially.
adjective
British English
- They faced an existential threat from the merger.
- He's going through an existential crisis.
American English
- The existential questions of philosophy fascinate her.
- It's a matter of existential importance.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Cats and dogs exist in many homes.
- The shop has existed for ten years.
- The existence of life on other planets is possible.
- He leads a quiet existence in the countryside.
- The treaty brought the new nation into existence.
- Pollution poses a threat to the very existence of these creatures.
- The philosopher pondered the nature of existence itself.
- The company's precarious existence was dependent on a single client.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'EXIT' + 'SENSE'. To have an 'exit' into reality, you must first have existence. You need a 'sense' of being.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXISTENCE IS A LOCATION (come into existence, go out of existence); EXISTENCE IS POSSESSION (have an existence).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'существование' for every context. In English, 'life' is often more natural for describing daily living (e.g., 'a hard life', not 'a hard existence').
- The phrase 'in existence' is a fixed idiom meaning 'currently existing', not always translatable word-for-word.
Common Mistakes
- Using as a countable noun where uncountable is needed (e.g., 'many existences' for 'much existence').
- Misspelling: 'existance' (incorrect).
- Confusing with 'existential' (the adjective).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is NOT a strong collocation with 'existence'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily uncountable (e.g., 'the existence of water'). It can be countable when referring to a particular type or way of life (e.g., 'He led a solitary existence').
'Existence' is broader, referring to the state of being real or present. 'Life' typically refers to the state of being alive as an organism, or to the experiences of a living being. 'A hard existence' sounds more formal/philosophical than 'a hard life'.
Stress the second syllable: ig-ZIS-tuhns. The first vowel is a short 'i' as in 'sit'. The 't' is clear in both BrE and AmE.
Yes, often in formal contexts concerning a company's survival or legitimacy, e.g., 'the legal existence of the entity', 'a fight for corporate existence'.
Collections
Part of a collection
Philosophy and Ethics
C1 · 50 words · Philosophical concepts and ethical reasoning.
Philosophical Vocabulary
C2 · 44 words · Technical terms used in academic philosophy.
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