existing

[ig-zis-ting]

adjective

1. already or previously in place, before being replaced, altered, or added to.

   Fundraising costs money, and recruiting new donors is more expensive than asking existing supporters to give a little more.

2. having actual being or life.

   The great ornithologist Alexander Wetmore, who died in 1978, allegedly declared that all existing species of birds had already been discovered.

3. occurring in a specified place or under specified conditions.

   Members of committees dealing with the behavior of intelligence services met to discuss the existing challenges and exchange best practices.

4. achieving only the basic needs of existence, as food and shelter.

   Forrest Bess was a marginally existing bait fisherman and artist who lived in a ramshackle cabin on the Gulf of Mexico.

Other Word Forms

• nonexisting adjective
• unexisting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of existing¹

exist ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

“This represents a policy tailwind that could extend the operational life of existing coal assets and potentially justify new infrastructure investments,” they said.

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As I wrote recently, for all the hype around Kirk’s memorial, the actual event didn’t resonate beyond his existing fanbase.

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The result puzzled the team since no existing theory could account for it.

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The country's myriad conflicts are adding to existing pressures on hunger and food inflation.

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Carney said officials would review the existing EV policy and look for ways to reduce costs and to potentially bring more affordable EVs to Canada.

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Related Words

• actual 
• current 
• extant