subsist
verb
sub·sist səb-ˈsist 
subsisted; subsisting; subsists
intransitive verb
1
a
: to have existence : be
b
: persist, continue
2
: to have or acquire the necessities of life (such as food and clothing)
especially : to nourish oneself
subsisting on roots, berries and grubs
3
a
: to hold true
b
: to be logically conceivable as the subject of true statements
transitive verb
: to support with provisions
Synonyms
- be
- breathe
- exist
- live
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The author's right to royalties shall subsist for the term of the copyright. a love that was as great as any that ever did subsist
Recent Examples on the Web This box contains 18 servings of hearty entrees, plus granola with blueberries and milk, providing enough food for one person to subsist on for three days. 
Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 28 June 2022 Kajokaya said this jump in food costs forces many people to subsist on just one meal a day. Ryan Bergeron, CNN, 3 Aug. 2022 Some of them subsist on illegally logging, hunting, and fishing inside the reserve. Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 28 June 2022 Ukraine and Russia account for a third of global wheat and barley exports, which countries in the Middle East and Africa rely on to feed millions of people who subsist on subsidized bread. Phil Mccausland, NBC News, 28 May 2022 Smedler also helped with business decisions that enabled the family to subsist on a limited budget. Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, 18 May 2022 Regal fritillary butterflies, which subsist on violets and stick to prairie habitats, are disappearing. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2022 The people subsist on fishing, hunting, and farming crops such as cassava and plantain. Víctor Bastidas, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2022 Ukraine and Russia account for a third of global wheat and barley exports, which Middle East countries rely on to feed millions of people who subsist on subsidized bread and bargain noodles. Samy Magdy, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Apr. 2022 See More
Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 28 June 2022 Kajokaya said this jump in food costs forces many people to subsist on just one meal a day. Ryan Bergeron, CNN, 3 Aug. 2022 Some of them subsist on illegally logging, hunting, and fishing inside the reserve. Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 28 June 2022 Ukraine and Russia account for a third of global wheat and barley exports, which countries in the Middle East and Africa rely on to feed millions of people who subsist on subsidized bread. Phil Mccausland, NBC News, 28 May 2022 Smedler also helped with business decisions that enabled the family to subsist on a limited budget. Vincent T. Davis, San Antonio Express-News, 18 May 2022 Regal fritillary butterflies, which subsist on violets and stick to prairie habitats, are disappearing. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 20 Apr. 2022 The people subsist on fishing, hunting, and farming crops such as cassava and plantain. Víctor Bastidas, Vogue, 22 Apr. 2022 Ukraine and Russia account for a third of global wheat and barley exports, which Middle East countries rely on to feed millions of people who subsist on subsidized bread and bargain noodles. Samy Magdy, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Late Latin subsistere to exist, from Latin, to come to a halt, remain, from sub- + sistere to come to a stand; akin to Latin stare to stand — more at stand
First Known Use
1549, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
Phrases Containing subsist
Kids Definition
subsist
verb
sub·sist səb-ˈsist
subsisted; subsisting
: to continue living or being
They subsisted on bread and water.
subsists
verb
as in is
to have life a love that was as great as any that ever did subsist Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- is
- exists
- lives
- breathes
- survives
- persists
- rules
- abides
- endures
- continues
- flourishes
- thrives
- lasts
- prospers
- kicks
- leads
- holds on
- runs on
- keeps (on)
- moves
- holds up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dies
- perishes
- disappears
- expires
- vanishes
- departs
- succumbs
- ceases
- evaporates
- stops
- ends
- dies (down)
- discontinues
- quits
- passes away
- subsides
- wanes
- abates
- ebbs
- desists
- moderates
- lets up