One-Word Substitute for Pervasive Presence

The question asks for a single word that means the same as the phrase "existing or being everywhere at the same time," specifically in the context of smartphones in the digital age.

Understanding the Phrase

The core idea is something that is present in many places simultaneously, common, and widespread. In the sentence, it describes how smartphones seem to be constantly with us and visible everywhere in our modern lives.

Analyzing the Options

Let's examine each option to see which one best fits the meaning:

• ubiquitous: This word means seeming to be everywhere or very common. It perfectly captures the idea of something being present in many places at once. For example, coffee shops seem ubiquitous in many cities. This aligns directly with the meaning of the underlined phrase.
• evanescent: This word means likely to vanish soon; fading away. It describes something temporary and fleeting, the opposite of being everywhere. For instance, a morning mist can be evanescent.
• fugacious: Similar to evanescent, this means lasting for a very short time; fleeting or transient. It doesn't fit the context of something being widespread and constantly present. Think of a fugacious moment of happiness.
• recondite: This word means dealing with very difficult or obscure subject matter; hard to understand. It relates to complexity and hidden knowledge, not to physical presence or commonness. A recondite philosophical text might be an example.

Determining the Best Fit

Comparing the definitions, the word ubiquitous is the only one that accurately represents the concept of "existing or being everywhere at the same time" as used in the sentence about smartphones.

Conclusion

Therefore, ubiquitous is the correct one-word substitute for the underlined phrase, highlighting the widespread presence of smartphones in the digital age.