subsist on
phrasal verb
subsisted on; subsisting on; subsists on
: to use (something) as a way to stay alive : to live on (something)
poor people subsisting on just one or two dollars a day
The villagers subsist almost entirely on rice and fish.
(humorous) My brother subsists on pizza.
Examples of subsist on in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The industry subsists on fresh ideas brought by new talent.
—
Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
My family was subsisting on flour and white rice left over from the last ceasefire, in January, 2025.
—Mosab Abu Toha, New Yorker, 12 June 2025
The animals subsist on tiny plankton and are commonly spotted in southern New England waters in late spring, according to the New England Aquarium.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 28 May 2025
Broadway theaters subsist on stunt-cast revivals of old warhorses; book publishers rely disproportionately on backlist sales.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for subsist on
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Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2025
My family was subsisting on flour and white rice left over from the last ceasefire, in January, 2025.
—Mosab Abu Toha, New Yorker, 12 June 2025
The animals subsist on tiny plankton and are commonly spotted in southern New England waters in late spring, according to the New England Aquarium.
—Charna Flam, People.com, 28 May 2025
Broadway theaters subsist on stunt-cast revivals of old warhorses; book publishers rely disproportionately on backlist sales.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 5 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for subsist on
Cite this Entry
“Subsist on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subsist%20on. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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