coexist

IPA/ˌkəʊɪɡˈzɪst/
KK[kˌoəɡzˈɪst]IPA/ˌkəʊɪɡˈzɪst/

coexist — verb

  • coexistpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • coexistshe / she / it
  • coexistedpast simple
  • coexisting-ing form

1. When two or more things, people, or groups coexist, each continues to exist in t

1.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

When two or more things, people, or groups coexist, each continues to exist in the same space or time as the others without pushing them away.

Example

In many large cities, old and new buildings coexist side by side.

collocation: coexist side by side

Sora and Tara had to coexist in the same small office after their companies merged.

Common collocations
  • coexist with
  • coexist peacefully
  • coexist side by side
  • species coexist
  • cultures coexist
  • systems coexist
Synonyms
  • co-occur

    more specific to events or phenomena that happen at the same time, often in scientific contexts

  • coincide

    suggests exact overlap in time or place, often unplanned

  • live together

    more concrete and informal, used especially for people sharing a space

Antonyms
  • conflict

    suggests active opposition rather than peaceful coexistence

  • clash

    implies incompatibility and active disagreement

Grammar Patterns

coexist (with someone/something)

coexist (somewhere/at some time)

Usage Note

Intransitive verb — never used in the passive voice. The person or thing that something coexists with is introduced by the preposition 'with'.

Common Mistakes

The new system coexists the old one.
The new system coexists with the old one.
'coexist' is intransitive and needs 'with' to connect the two parties.
The two cultures are coexisted peacefully.
The two cultures coexist peacefully.
'coexist' cannot be used in the passive voice.

2. When countries or groups choose to coexist, they live together without fighting

2.verbintransitiveC1
Definition

When countries or groups choose to coexist, they live together without fighting or trying to harm each other, even though they may have different beliefs or interests.

Example

The two nations agreed to coexist peacefully after decades of border conflict.

collocation: coexist peacefully

Religious groups in this region have coexisted without serious conflict for over a hundred years.

coexist without + noun phrase

Common collocations
  • coexist peacefully
  • coexist with
  • agree to coexist
  • nations coexist
  • communities coexist
Synonyms
  • live in harmony

    broader and less formal, usable in personal contexts

  • tolerate each other

    implies putting up with differences rather than embracing them

  • get along

    informal, used for people or groups that maintain a good relationship

Antonyms
  • fight

    direct opposition, the opposite of peaceful coexistence

  • war

    specifically about armed conflict between nations or groups

Grammar Patterns

coexist peacefully (with someone)

coexist (as a matter of policy)

Usage Note

Common in political and diplomatic writing. Often paired with the adverb 'peacefully'. Unlike sense 1, the subject is typically human groups or nations, not inanimate things.

Common Mistakes

The two leaders coexisted the agreement.
The two leaders agreed to coexist under the terms of the agreement.
'coexist' is intransitive and does not take a direct object.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

Coexist, co-occur, and coincide all describe things that exist or happen together, but they differ in scope. Coexist is the broadest — it describes people, things, or groups that exist in the same time or place, without one forcing the other away. Co-occur is more specific to events or phenomena that happen at the same time, especially in scientific or statistical contexts. Coincide is narrower still, suggesting an exact temporal overlap that may or may not be planned. For example, two bird species can coexist in the same forest by using different food sources (they share space but occupy different niches). A flu outbreak and a cold snap can co-occur in winter (they happen at the same time independently). A public holiday may coincide with a local festival (the dates fall on the same day).

co-occur ↗coincide ↗live together ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • coexist with each other
  • agree to coexist
  • learn to coexist

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Coexist comes from Latin 'co-' meaning 'together' and 'existere' meaning 'to come into being' or 'to exist'. The word entered English in the 1600s and was initially used in philosophical and theological contexts before gaining broader everyday and political usage.

First known use

1667

1667, in the meaning defined at sense 1