out of existence

USAGE SUMMARY

"out of existence" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has been destroyed, removed, or otherwise made to no longer exist. Example: "The old bridge was destroyed in the storm and was wiped out of existence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Kiribati faces going out of existence because of climate change, and that is extraordinary," Schrag said.

Harvard University

Basically writing this creature out of existence".

The New York Times - Arts

The tactic was legislated out of existence.

The New York Times - Sports

Productive laboratories are going out of existence.

The New York Times

That has gone out of existence.

The New York Times

We have carbonized it out of existence.

The New York Times - Books

Let's not tax it out of existence.

University of California, Berkeley

"You can't define this out of existence".

The New York Times

We're being priced out of existence.

The New York Times

Tax them out of existence!" View Article.

The New Yorker

The far right will not be debated out of existence.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "out of existence" to vividly describe the complete disappearance or destruction of something, whether it's a physical object, a concept, or even a species.

Common error

While impactful, avoid using "out of existence" in highly technical or scientific writing where more precise terminology might be appropriate. Instead, consider terms like "eliminated", "extinguished", or "invalidated".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "out of existence" functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb or noun to indicate a state of non-being or complete removal. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "out of existence" is a grammatically sound and frequently used prepositional phrase that vividly describes the complete cessation or destruction of something. Ludwig AI identifies it as correct and usable. It is most commonly found in news, academic, and science contexts, serving to emphasize finality or loss. While versatile, it's best to avoid overuse in overly technical or informal settings where more precise language might be preferable. Consider alternatives like "completely destroyed" or "ceased to be" for slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ceased to be

A more formal and direct way of stating that something no longer exists.

completely destroyed

Emphasizes total annihilation or ruin.

rendered nonexistent

Focuses on the action that makes something no longer exist.

totally eradicated

Highlights the act of completely removing or eliminating something.

brought to an end

Focuses on the act of terminating something.

wiped off the map

Uses a metaphorical expression to indicate complete obliteration.

passed into oblivion

Implies a state of being forgotten or unknown after ceasing to exist.

vanished without a trace

Emphasizes the mysterious disappearance of something.

become extinct

Specifically used for living species that no longer exist.

fallen into disuse

Indicates that something is no longer being used and has essentially disappeared from practice.

FAQs

How can I use "out of existence" in a sentence?

You can use "out of existence" to describe something that has been completely destroyed, eliminated, or rendered nonexistent. For example: "The dinosaurs were wiped "out of existence" millions of years ago."

What are some alternatives to saying "out of existence"?

Alternatives include "completely destroyed", "totally eradicated", "ceased to be", or "wiped off the map", each carrying slightly different connotations.

Is it correct to say 'vanished out of existence'?

While grammatically understandable, 'vanished "out of existence"' can be redundant. 'Vanished' already implies a complete disappearance. It's better to simply say 'vanished' or use 'wiped "out of existence"'.

What's the difference between "out of existence" and "into oblivion"?

"Out of existence" focuses on the cessation of being, while "into oblivion" emphasizes being forgotten or lost to time. Something wiped "out of existence" is gone, while something that falls "into oblivion" is forgotten.