rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryextantStill existing
adjective

extant

ek-STANT/ekˈstænt/

Still existing, especially from the past.

The ancient arch remains extant amid the collapsed walls around it.

A weathered ancient stone arch still stands intact amid the low, collapsed remains of the walls once connected to it, making survival over a long time visible.
Etymology
exLatinout
+tantLatinto stand

“Standing out” led to the related ideas of being visible and existing, already present in Latin. The selected English sense emphasizes continued existence, especially after a long time.

In context

Reading the Past28:06
however the pair of bodies that came with the original effigy are still extant and indeed are still on display at westminster abbey
The End of the First Elizabethan Era

More examples

  • Her extant letters reveal little about her childhood.
  • This church is the town's oldest extant building.
  • The study compares extinct and extant species.

Forms

extant

Similar words

surviving
Surviving emphasizes endurance through time, danger, or loss.
remaining
Remaining emphasizes what is left after others are gone.
existent
Existent means real or present, without implying historical survival.