existent

IPA/ɪɡˈzɪstənt/
KK[ɛɡzˈɪstənt]IPA/ɪɡˈzɪstənt/

existent — adjective

  • existentpositive
  • more existentcomparative
  • most existentsuperlative

1. in a place or situation at the current time, often after some earlier period whe

1.形容詞C2
釋義

in a place or situation at the current time, often after some earlier period when it might have ended.

例句

The existent road map of the town is too old to trust.

the existent + noun

Joon studied the rules currently existent in the housing law.

currently existent + noun phrase

同義詞
  • current

    the everyday word for what is in place at the present time

  • present

    stresses being there at the moment, often before a noun like 'situation' or 'system'

  • existing

    the broad and far more common everyday choice in writing and speech

反義詞
  • former

    used for something that was in place before but is no longer

  • future

    used for plans or things expected later, not yet here

  • obsolete

    used when something has been replaced and is no longer in use

文法句型

the + existent + noun

currently existent

still existent

用法筆記

Frequently appears before a noun that names a record, rule, structure, or piece of land. Sense 1 is about time (the thing is here at the current moment); sense 2 is about reality (the thing is real, not made-up). When in doubt, choose 'current' or 'present' for daily speech.

常見錯誤

❌My existent friend Christopher lives nearby.
✅My current friend Christopher lives nearby.
💡'existent' sounds odd for ordinary people in daily speech; reserve it for formal writing about rules, records, or structures.

2. real and able to be observed, rather than only imagined, predicted, or possible

2.形容詞C2
釋義

real and able to be observed, rather than only imagined, predicted, or possible in theory.

例句

Cyrus argued that the danger was real and existent, not made up by the press.

real and existent (contrast with imagined)

Public trust in the new policy is barely existent among older voters.

barely existent (degree adverb)

同義詞
  • real

    the everyday word for something that actually exists, not made-up

  • actual

    stresses the contrast with what was claimed, planned, or expected

  • tangible

    suggests something you can touch, see, or measure

反義詞
  • imaginary

    used for things that exist only in the mind

  • hypothetical

    used for ideas considered only in theory

  • nonexistent

    the direct negative — not present at all in reality

文法句型

be + existent

barely existent

scarcely existent

用法筆記

Most often used predicatively (after 'be') and modified by a degree adverb such as 'barely', 'scarcely', 'hardly', or 'clearly'. Distinguish from sense 1: here the focus is whether the thing is real at all, not whether it is here right now. Sense 2 commonly appears in negative or near-negative contexts (barely / hardly existent).

常見錯誤

❌My doubts are very existent.
✅My doubts are very real.
💡'existent' is rarely used alone with 'very'; pair it with adverbs like 'barely', 'scarcely', 'hardly', or 'clearly'.