exist

Universal Words verb [V] 1 (not used in the progressive tenses) to be real; to be present in a place or situation: Does life exist on other planets? * The problem only exists in your head, Jane. * Few of these monkeys still exist in the wild. * A temple existed here hundreds of years ago. 2 ~ (on sth) to live, especially in a difficult situation or with very little money: We existed on a diet of rice and very little else. * They can't exist on the money he's earning.