Exist vs. Live

'Exist' and 'live' are synonyms but they differ in terms of scope of their meaning. Follow the lesson to learn about their differences.

What is the difference between 'exist' and 'live'?

Both 'live' and 'exist' refer to the state of being or remaining alive or having life. However, 'exist' is a more general term that can refer to the quality of being real or present in relation to any kind of object or idea while 'live' mainly applies to living beings. This lesson will explore the difference between these two verbs.

Difference in Scope and Context

To 'exist' means to be real, to have actual being. Existence can refer to the presence of living organisms, the reality of objects or entities, or the occurrence of events or phenomena. To 'live', on the other hand, is only concerned with existence of living organisms and refers to the quality of being alive. The concept of 'living' can apply to humans, animals, and plants. It implies an active state of being, as opposed to being inanimate or non-living. Here are some examples:

The doctors said he still has many years to live.

Most plants can't live without light and water.

The company's main objective is to exist as a sustainable and environmentally conscious business.

You cannot use 'live' to talk about a company or business. Although it is comprised of people, the objective is that of the company and not the people in it.

In the depths of the ocean, fascinating and mysterious creatures exist that have never been seen by humans.

Here, you can use 'live' instead of 'exist' as the subject is a living organism.

Comments

(2)
Loading Recaptcha...
George Williams
Jul 2024
I am fascinated with the modern day usage and contextualization of words as a tool for expressing and articulating, one’s thoughts and mind. I seek to have a richer understanding of what each word is trying to advocate especially in conversation . This I feel set a different tone from the lay communication to the academic expression and usage of word.
Reply
Loading Recaptcha...
Augustine
Oct 2023
I am excited by the definiteness and clarity of explanations
Reply
Loading Recaptcha...
Share on :

Recommended

Reach vs. Arrive vs. Come

bookmark
In order to add to your bookmarks you must sign in to your account
Close
Sign in
These verbs are synonyms but they emphasize different points and are grammatically different. Follow the lesson to learn their difference.

Appear vs. Emerge

bookmark
In order to add to your bookmarks you must sign in to your account
Close
Sign in
'Appear' and 'emerge' are synonyms but they are used in different contexts. Follow the lesson to find out more about their difference.

Produce vs. Manufacture

bookmark
In order to add to your bookmarks you must sign in to your account
Close
Sign in
'Produce' and 'manufacture' are synonyms but they differ in their scope of meaning and scale of action. Follow the lesson for more details.

Protect vs. Defend

bookmark
In order to add to your bookmarks you must sign in to your account
Close
Sign in
'Protect' and 'defend' are closely related in meaning but they refer to actions taken in different situations. This lesson will tell you about their difference.

Drop vs. Fall

bookmark
In order to add to your bookmarks you must sign in to your account
Close
Sign in
'Drop' and 'fall' are synonyms but they have a subtle difference in the manner of movement they signify. Follow the lesson to learn about their differences.

Involve vs. Include

bookmark
In order to add to your bookmarks you must sign in to your account
Close
Sign in
'Involve' and 'include' are closely related in meaning but they have a subtle difference which we are going to discuss in this lesson.
LanGeek
Download LanGeek app