Definition of EXISTENCE

existence

Plural: existences

Noun

  • the state or fact of existing
    • "laws in existence for centuries"
  • everything that exists anywhere
    • "the biggest tree in existence"
  • The state of being, existing, or occurring; beinghood.
  • Empirical reality; the substance of the physical universe. (Dictionary of Philosophy; 1968)

Examples

  • In order to destroy evil, we must first acknowledge its existence.

Origin / Etymology

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.

Scrabble Score: 18

existence: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
existence: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
existence: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 20

existence: valid Words With Friends Word