[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/subsist/)

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# subsist

verb (subsist, subsists, subsisted, subsisting); noun subsistence

«subsist» 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. (formal) To subsist is to stay alive, often with very little food or money: they subsisted on bread and water. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subsist/#m1)
2. (formal) To subsist is also to continue to exist: the old custom still subsists. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subsist/#m2)

### In the lessons

Formal and exam language; in history and geography lessons people subsisted by farming, hunting or fishing (subsistence farming means growing just enough to feed your family). In stories, castaways subsist on coconuts. Plain words: live on, survive, get by.

### Examples

- The castaways subsisted on fish and coconuts. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subsist/#x1)
- During the long winter the family subsisted on potatoes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subsist/#x2)
- Many families once subsisted by farming small fields. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subsist/#x3)
- He subsisted on very little money. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subsist/#x4)
- Birds can subsist on seeds in winter. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subsist/#x5)
- Subsistence farmers grow just enough food to eat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/subsist/#x6)

### Note

Formal word; in speech say «live on» or «get by». Usually followed by «on» or «by»: subsist on rice, subsist by fishing. Do not mix up with «insist» or «persist».

## In Jewish tradition

Formal and exam language; in history and geography lessons people subsisted by farming, hunting or fishing (subsistence farming means growing just enough to feed your family). In stories, castaways subsist on coconuts. Plain words: live on, survive, get by.

### Note

Formal word; in speech say «live on» or «get by». Usually followed by «on» or «by»: subsist on rice, subsist by fishing. Do not mix up with «insist» or «persist».

## On Mova

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