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# exist

verb (exist, exists, existed, existing); noun: existence

«exist» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To be real; to be present in the world or in a place. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/exist/#m1)
2. To live or stay alive, especially in a hard way (to exist on very little food). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/exist/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science and history it is used to ask what is real: dinosaurs existed long ago; some animals no longer exist (extinct). In stories and fairy tales characters wonder if dragons or magic exist. In media literacy: just because something is online doesn't mean it exists or is true. Phrases: no longer exist, still exist, does it exist?, existing (already there).

### Examples

- Dinosaurs existed millions of years ago. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/exist/#x1)
- Do you think aliens exist? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/exist/#x2)
- Dodos no longer exist — they are extinct. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/exist/#x3)
- Water exists as ice, liquid and steam. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/exist/#x4)
- Unicorns don't exist except in stories. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/exist/#x5)
- This old castle has existed for 800 years. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/exist/#x6)
- Plants could not exist without sunlight. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/exist/#x7)
- He could exist here, he said, well enough. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/exist/#x8)

### Note

«Exist» is not usually used in the -ing form for states: say «Dragons don't exist», not «aren't existing». Spelling: existence (with -ence). «Extinct» = no longer exists (for living things).

## In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: The Sefer Yetzirah teaches that all things came to exist from the three mother letters and from God's word, out of nothing. In the primary lessons: In science and history it is used to ask what is real: dinosaurs existed long ago; some animals no longer exist (extinct). In stories and fairy tales characters wonder if dragons or magic exist. In media literacy: just because something is online doesn't mean it exists or is true. Phrases: no longer exist, still exist, does it exist?, existing (already there).

### Examples

- At first existed these three mothers, and there arose three masculine powers, and hence all things have originated. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1887) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/exist/#x1)
- There exist alternative traditions where this term in the SY is vocalized instead as אַמּוֹת ammot 'cubits' or אֻמּוֹת ummot 'nations'. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/exist/#x2)
- or does exist outside of Himself ; His substance is the foundation of all, and all things bear His imprint and are symbols of His intelligence." (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/exist/#x3)

### Note

«Exist» is not usually used in the -ing form for states: say «Dragons don't exist», not «aren't existing». Spelling: existence (with -ence). «Extinct» = no longer exists (for living things).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «exist» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/exist/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«exist» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/exist.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «exist» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/exist/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«exist» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/exist.html) on Mova free.