exist

CEFR: A1-A2 /ex-ist/ [ih0.g.z.ih1.s.t]

The verb "exist" means to live, to have reality. It's not only "live" things that exist. The government exists, as does your fear of heights. Anything that can be acknowledged in the present exists. Another meaning for the verb exists is to support oneself or survive. If someone doesn't have a job, they may have to exist on unemployment benefits until they find one.

Let’s take a look at some sentences where the verb "exist" means to live, to have reality:

Example Sentences:

She believes that ghosts really do exist.

It's the largest galaxy known to exist.

Does life exist on Mars?

The Internet didn't exist then 200 years ago.

Dinosaurs existed for about 150 million years during three geologic periods

Those ideas only exist in your mind.

In the last sentence: Those ideas only exist in your mind; means that the ideas are only in your mind.

Now, here are some example sentences where the verb "exist" means to support oneself or survive. It is used with the preposition "on":

Example Sentences:

I can barely exist on this wage.

This sentence means that the individual’s wage is not enough to survive on or support oneself. He/she may have to find a better job which pays higher wages to survive on or support himself/herself.

Example Sentences:

Villagers existed on rainwater in the jungle = Villagers subsisted on rainwater in the jungle.

This sentence means that villVillagers survived on rainwater in the jungle. You can also use "subsist on".