(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
1.
The ~ of something is the fact that it is present in the world as a real thing.
...the ~ of other galaxies...
The Congress of People’s Deputies in effect voted itself out of ~...
Public worries about accidents are threatening the very ~ of the nuclear power industry.
N-UNCOUNT: usu with supp
2.
You can refer to someone’s way of life as an ~, especially when they live under difficult conditions.
You may be stuck with a miserable ~ for the rest of your life...
N-COUNT: with supp