Exist

Exist is a verb that denotes having actual being or reality. It is used to express that something is real or present in space and time, as opposed to being imaginary, fictional, or nonexistent. The concept also covers the occurrence of events or phenomena and can apply to objects, beings, ideas, and states.

Etymology of exist traces to Latin existere, meaning “to stand out, arise, or come into being,” from ex- “out” + sistere “to cause to stand.” The word entered English via Old French in the medieval period and acquired its current sense of real presence or occurrence.

Philosophically, existence is a central topic in ontology and metaphysics. It is commonly contrasted with essence—the question of what something is versus that it is. Debates have addressed whether existence is a separate property or a basic mode of being. In Kantian philosophy, existence is not a real predicate added to a concept. Existentialism, a later movement, centers on human existence, freedom, choice, and authenticity, emphasizing concrete lived experience over abstract definitions. Philosophers also distinguish contingent existence (dependent on other factors) from necessary existence (not dependent on anything).

In logic and mathematics, existence is formalized by the existential quantifier (there exists, ∃), used to assert that at least one object with a given property exists. In linguistics, existential constructions such as “there is/there are” introduce the presence of something. Everyday usage covers both physical presence and hypothetical or fictional existence, as when one says that a unicorn does not exist or that a solution exists to a problem.