ADJ

actual, real
El Cid's actual existence is not in doubt. Since her illness, other people had become shadowy and had no real existence for her
brief
continued, future
very
The peasants depend on a good harvest for their very existence (= in order to continue to live)
mere
The mere existence of these strange creatures fascinated him
autonomous, independent, separate
any organism capable of independent existence
human
the mystery of human existence
material, physical
social

VERB + EXISTENCE

be in
The idea of God in nature has been in existence for as long as human beings have worshipped
come into, spring into
The organization came into existence ten years ago. What are the chances of these molecules springing spontaneously into existence?
be crushed out of, go out of
If you jump into a black hole you will get torn apart and crushed out of existence. There was a fear that the club might go out of existence for lack of support
bring sth into, call sth into
striving to bring into existence a new kind of society
be aware of, know of
be unaware of
assert
assume, postulate, presuppose
The theory assumes the existence of a 'meritocracy' ?that there is equal opportunity for all
accept, acknowledge, believe in, recognize
He didn't believe in the existence of God
deny
doubt
imply, indicate, suggest
discover, reveal
confirm, demonstrate, establish, prove
disprove
explain
How do you explain the existence of closely related species in widely separated locations?
justify
forget, ignore
The girl's parents continued to ignore her very existence
resent
Deep down I resented his existence
jeopardize, threaten
Climate changes threaten the continued existence of the species
owe
The school owed its existence to the generosity of one man
be vital to
A super-efficient sense of smell is no longer vital to our existence

EXISTENCE + VERB

depend on/upon sth
The company's existence depends on continued growth

PREP

in ~
the only instrument of its kind in existence

PHRASES

a mode of existence
the nature and significance of the temporal mode of existence
the struggle for existence
Darwin viewed the struggle for existence as being the major promoter of evolution

ADJ

bare, frugal, hand-to-mouth, miserable, precarious
He lived a hand-to-mouth existence in the less attractive areas of London
comfortable, ordered, peaceful, quiet
dull, humdrum, routine
isolated, lonely, solitary
nomadic
rural, suburban, urban
daily, day-to-day, everyday
previous, prior
He claimed to be able to remember a previous existence

VERB + EXISTENCE

enjoy, have, lead, live
eke out, endure
They eke out a precarious existence foraging in rubbish dumps