non-existence

The concept of non-existence is difficult to illustrate.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • The state of not existing: "non-existence" refers to the condition or fact of being absent from reality; the lack of being or presence.
   • Absence of being: In philosophical or theoretical contexts, "non-existence" denotes the quality of something that has no objective reality or does not occur in any form.

Usage Examples

• (The condition of not existing is hard to understand.)
• (The company ceased to be present or real.)
• (Whether the state of not existing can be perceived.)

Advanced Usage

• "to pass into non-existence": to cease to exist entirely.

  • The ancient civilization passed into non-existence leaving only ruins behind. (It disappeared completely from reality.)

• "the non-existence of something": the fact that a particular thing does not exist.

  • The non-existence of evidence led to the case being dismissed. (The absence of any proof.)

Variants and Related Words

• Non-existent (adj): not existing; not real or present.

  • The reported creature is non-existent in scientific records. (It does not exist in reality.)

• Existence (n): the state of being real or living.

  • The existence of life on other planets remains unproven. (The state of being present in reality.)

Synonyms

• Nothingness: the state of being nothing; absence of any being.
• Void: an empty space or the condition of lacking substance.
• Absence: the state of being away or not present.

Related Idioms

• Out of existence: to be completely removed or destroyed.

  • The old building was bombed out of existence. (It was destroyed so that it no longer exists.)

• A figment of the imagination: something that does not exist except in a person's mind.

  • His fear was a figment of the imagination, a non-existence in reality. (It had no real basis.)