nonexistent
nonexistent — adjective
- nonexistentpositive
- more nonexistentcomparative
- most nonexistentsuperlative
1. describing something that is not present in reality — it may be imagined, lost,
describing something that is not present in reality — it may be imagined, lost, or never brought into being
Nala checked the database three times; the customer record was nonexistent.
Liam opened every box in the attic, but the old letters were nonexistent.
predicate adjective: [subject] + was/were + nonexistent
The promised refund from the airline turned out to be completely nonexistent.
Trang waited for a bus that, according to the timetable, was nonexistent.
After hours of searching, Tara admitted the evidence was simply nonexistent.
- imaginary
'imaginary' describes things created by the mind; 'nonexistent' simply means not existing, without saying why
- absent
'absent' describes someone or something not where expected; 'nonexistent' means not existing at all
- fictitious
'fictitious' implies deliberately invented, often for deception; 'nonexistent' is neutral
用法筆記
This adjective almost always follows a linking verb (is, was, seems, proved, turned out). It is rarely placed directly before a noun. Compare with 'missing': something missing was once present and may be found; something nonexistent was never there.