1. plural of preexistence; the state or fact of existing before something else, or before a particular time
Usage: usually used in philosophical or theological contexts
2. in theology and philosophy, the doctrine that the soul exists before birth or before the creation of the body
Usage: philosophical; theological

Examples

• The philosopher argued for the preexistences of abstract forms before the material world.
• Some religious traditions teach the preexistences of souls in a spiritual realm.
• The preexistences of certain ideas in human consciousness fascinated Plato.
• Medieval theologians debated the preexistences of divine attributes.
• The concept of preexistences challenges our understanding of time and creation.