Existential

Quick meaning: Existential is an adjective meaning Of or relating to existence.

Meaning

Of or relating to existence.

More Meanings

1. (linguistics) Relating to part of a clause that indicates existence (for example, there is).
2. (linguistics) Ellipsis of existential clause (“a clause that indicates the existence of something”).
3. (programming) Ellipsis of existential type (“in a type system: a type that hides the underlying concrete type(s)”).
4. Of or relating to existentialism (“a philosophical movement emphasizing the uniqueness of each human existence in freely making its self-defining choices”).

Example Sentences

Some existential thinkers are concerned with artistic expression only indirectly, that is, they are passionately interested critics and analysts of art works.

Most of the subjects had terminal cancer, and several died within a year after the trial—but not before having a mental adventure that appeared to have eased the existential gloom of their last days.

The third univerſal is appetite; every perfect and imperfect living creature acquires ſuſtenance to eate and drink. For exiſtential or ſenſual, I grant many, that there is a Sun that ſhineth, that the fire heateth, &c. yet a blind man and the Paralytick denies both.

In classical accounts of Finnish and Estonian grammar, the possibility of using the so-called partitive subject has been one definitional criterion for the category of existential clauses. […] We argue that existentials form a radial category, with a prototype and less canonical instances, where the prototype is clearly definable but the actual borderline between existentials and other clause types is fuzzy.

Word Forms

• existentials

Synonyms for existential

Depending on context, synonyms include empirical, experiential.

Antonyms for existential

Common opposites include nonexistential, nonmetaphysical, nonphenomenal, noumenal.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include empirical, experiential, existence, fundamental, essential, survival.

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