What does exist mean?
Word: Exist
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Exist means to be real or to be present somewhere; to stay alive.
Synonyms: be, survive
How do you spell exist?
Syllables: ex - ist
Tricky part: The x already gives the buzzing 'gz' sound you hear, so no extra s or z follows it. Exsist and egzist are both wrong.
Watch out for: exsist, egzist, exest
Memory tip: The x does all the buzzing for you, so count just five letters: e-x-i-s-t.
Exist in a sentence
Example 1: Do you think aliens exist somewhere in space?
Example 2: Very few old letters from my great-grandfather still exist.
Example 3: No living thing can exist for long without water.
Fun Fact
Exist comes from the Latin exsistere, which meant to stand out or to come into view.
Practise the CREST Way
Sound Check
Which word does not rhyme with the given word?
exist
a) twist
b) artist
c) insist
d) resist
Show answer
b) artist. Artist is said 'AR-tist', with the beat at the start, so its ending does not match exist.
Word Champ
In which option are the given words arranged in alphabetical order?
1. exit 2. exist 3. exhibit
a) 231
b) 321
c) 312
d) 123
Show answer
b) 321. After ex, h comes before i, so exhibit leads; exist then comes before exit because s comes before t.
Word Fusion
Add the correct option to the following to make a new word:
exist______
a) ince
b) ense
c) ence
d) ance
Show answer
c) ence. Exist becomes existence with -ence, the same ending as in difference.
Spell Spies
Choose the misspelt word/s in the given sentence:
Do you think dragons ever existed, or are they only found in storys?
a) only storys
b) only found
c) storys and think
d) dragons and ever
Show answer
a) only storys. Story ends in a consonant and y, so its plural changes y to ies: stories.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. If a shop 'no longer exists', what has happened to it?
a) it has sold out of rice
b) it has moved next door
c) it has a new owner now
d) it has closed for good
Show answer
d) it has closed for good
2. 'Mermaids do not exist,' said Dadi. What did she mean?
a) mermaids are not real
b) mermaids live far away
c) mermaids are very shy
d) mermaids swim at night
Show answer
a) mermaids are not real
