subsist

Everyday

1. (formal) To subsist is to stay alive, often with very little food or money: they subsisted on bread and water. tree →
2. (formal) To subsist is also to continue to exist: the old custom still subsists. tree →

In the lessons

Formal and exam language; in history and geography lessons people subsisted by farming, hunting or fishing (subsistence farming means growing just enough to feed your family). In stories, castaways subsist on coconuts. Plain words: live on, survive, get by.

Examples

• The castaways subsisted on fish and coconuts. tree →
• During the long winter the family subsisted on potatoes. tree →
• Many families once subsisted by farming small fields. tree →
• He subsisted on very little money. tree →
• Birds can subsist on seeds in winter. tree →
• Subsistence farmers grow just enough food to eat. tree →

Note

Formal word; in speech say «live on» or «get by». Usually followed by «on» or «by»: subsist on rice, subsist by fishing. Do not mix up with «insist» or «persist».

In Jewish tradition

Formal and exam language; in history and geography lessons people subsisted by farming, hunting or fishing (subsistence farming means growing just enough to feed your family). In stories, castaways subsist on coconuts. Plain words: live on, survive, get by.

Note

Formal word; in speech say «live on» or «get by». Usually followed by «on» or «by»: subsist on rice, subsist by fishing. Do not mix up with «insist» or «persist».