The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms - exist v.

1) be, continue, prevail, endure, abide; live, breathe: Some believe that the universe exists only in our imagination. 2) survive, subsist, eke out a living or an existence, stay alive, get by or along: How can the family exist only on his pension? 3 occur, happen, be found, be present, remain, persist; obtain, prevail: A two-foot gap exists between the wall and the roof. 'Status quo' refers to the circumstances that exist.