Subsist - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
To subsist means to maintain or support oneself at a minimal level, often with basic necessities like food and shelter. It implies barely surviving or existing under difficult conditions.
Definition:
To maintain or support oneself, especially at a minimal level.
Synonyms:
survive, endure, exist, live
Part of Speech:
verb
Antonyms:
perish, thrive
Common Collocations:
subsist on, barely subsist, subsist without
Derivatives:
subsistence, subsistent
Usage Tips:
Use "subsist" to describe basic survival or minimal existence, often with "on" (e.g., "subsist on bread").
Common Phrases:
subsist on scraps, barely subsist, subsist by means of
Etymology:
From Latin "subsistere," meaning "to stand firm" or "remain."
Examples:
- 1. The villagers subsist on rice and fish.
- 2. He could barely subsist on his small income.
- 3. Some animals subsist without water for months.
- 4. They subsist by hunting and gathering food.