sense of existence

USAGE SUMMARY

'sense of existence' is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a feeling of having purpose in life or being aware of one's surroundings. For example, "She felt a strong sense of existence when she looked out to the horizon and saw the sun setting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

He, however, admits only one sense of existence and claims that some objects do not exist in that sense.

SEP

"The men are not alive, but there's a sense of existence.

The New York Times - Sports

It has just as much sense of existence as anything else".

The Guardian - Music

May we never reach such a depraved sense of existence, "human or animal".

The New York Times

A sense of existence as seamless and intractable — all one hard thing — crushes and exalts the plains dweller, inducing both humility and lofty thoughts.

The New Yorker

No matter how meticulously conceived a picture may look, it also achieves a feeling of epiphany — a heightened sense of existence in the shutter click's here and now.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

For if the first god is a causally necessary condition of the existence of every other concrete object, then the second god is not a causally sufficient condition (in the strong sense) of the existence of any contingent being.

SEP

Similarly, if the first god is a causally sufficient condition (in the strong sense) of the existence of at least one contingent being, then the second god is not a necessary condition of the existence of at least one concrete object that is distinct from itself.

SEP

The epistemic advantages of the PG hypothesis are many: it accommodates the evidence in favour of the existence of extensive HGT; it "makes unsurprising" (i.e. explains) the inevitable existence of the mobilome (given the nature of the ancestral evolutionary state); it makes sense of the existence of many evolving entities that do not belong to the cellular level of biological organisation.

Biology Direct

onetwo... onetwo" as they struggle to make sense of an existence without soundchecks and Marshall stacks.

The Guardian - Music

Every literary culture has among its first bearings the "blether" of animals who seek to make sense of human existence.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context. While generally appropriate, "sense of existence" can sound philosophical. In more casual settings, a simpler phrase like "feeling of being" might be preferable.

Common error

Avoid using "sense of existence" in overly casual or informal conversations. It can sound pretentious or overly dramatic when a simpler, more direct expression would suffice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sense of existence" primarily functions as a noun phrase. It refers to the subjective awareness or perception of being alive and having a place in the world. It describes an individual's understanding of their own reality. Ludwig AI validates this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Science

37%

Encyclopedias

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sense of existence" effectively communicates a feeling of purpose and self-awareness. Grammatically sound and common in both academic and journalistic contexts, as shown by Ludwig AI, it's appropriate for formal writing but potentially overwrought for casual conversation. Related phrases include "understanding of existence" and "consciousness of existence", offering subtle variations in meaning. When using "sense of existence", consider the audience and context to ensure the phrase aligns with the intended tone and register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

understanding of existence

Replaces "sense" with "understanding", emphasizing a cognitive grasp rather than a feeling.

consciousness of existence

Substitutes "sense" with "consciousness", highlighting an awareness or perception of being.

feeling of existence

Emphasizes the emotional aspect of being, replacing "sense" with "feeling".

awareness of being

Focuses on the state of 'being' rather than existence, highlighting the feeling or knowledge of being alive.

perception of reality

Shifts the focus to the perceived world and one's place within it.

experience of life

Broadens the concept to encompass the totality of one's lived experiences.

apprehension of being

Uses 'apprehension' to denote a more intellectual grasp of existence.

realization of self

Highlights the awareness of oneself as a distinct entity.

personal philosophy

Focuses on an individual's system of beliefs and values concerning existence.

individual worldview

Highlights subjective and personal perspective or outlook regarding the world.

FAQs

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

You can use "sense of existence" to describe a person's feeling of purpose or their awareness of being alive, as in, "The trauma robbed him of his "sense of existence"".

What's a more straightforward alternative to "sense of existence"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "feeling of being", "awareness of self", or "sense of purpose" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it appropriate to use "sense of existence" in formal writing?

Yes, "sense of existence" is suitable for formal writing, particularly in philosophical, psychological, or sociological contexts where you want to express a deep or profound awareness of being.

How does "sense of existence" differ from "meaning of life"?

"Sense of existence" refers to a personal feeling or awareness of being, while "meaning of life" implies a broader, more philosophical inquiry into the ultimate purpose of existence. The former is subjective, the latter is philosophical and existential.