to be; have existence; have being or reality
"The ancient ruins still exist despite centuries of weathering."
In plain English: To exist means to be real and actually present in the world.
"Some people believe that ghosts exist, but there is no scientific proof for them."
Usage: Use exist to indicate that something has real presence or being in the physical world or in fact. Avoid using it to describe temporary states or emotions, such as saying "I am existing" when you simply mean "I am."
The word "exist" comes from the Latin verb existō, which originally meant to appear or arise by standing out. It traveled into English through French and is ultimately built on a root meaning "to stand."