ex ‧ ist ‧ ing S2 W2 /ɪɡˈzɪstɪŋ/ BrE AmE adjective [only before noun]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ existence ≠ ↑ non-existence , ↑ existent , ↑ existentialism , ↑ existentialist , ↑ coexistence ; adjective : ↑ existent ≠ ↑ nonexistent , ↑ existing , ↑ pre-existing , ↑ existential , ↑ existentialist ; verb : ↑ exist , ↑ coexist ]
present or being used now:
the existing laws
The service is available to all existing customers.
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THESAURUS
▪ present [only before noun] happening or existing now:
The present situation could get much worse.
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the present century
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There are no plans to build more houses here at the present time.
▪ current [only before noun] present – used especially about something that is not expected to stay the same for long:
current trends in fashion
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the current state of the UK economy
▪ existing [only before noun] formal existing or being used now – used about things or situations that you think may be changed in the future:
The existing offices are too small.
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The proposal will strengthen existing immigration laws.
▪ contemporary [only before noun] used about the art, writing, ideas, society etc that belong to the present time:
the impact of computer-generated imagery on contemporary art and design
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contemporary music in Russia
▪ today’s/of today used about conditions and attitudes that exist now, when you are comparing them with those that existed in the past:
People struggle to keep up with the pace of life in today’s world of instant communications.
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the liberal ideology of today