Difference between Existing and Contemporary

[riazuddin]

can somebody tell me the difference beween existing and contemporary by giving me examples:

thanks

[Conchita]

Existing and contemporary may have the same meaning when contemporary is used in the sense of existing now: exhibition of contemporary art (exhibition by artists who are still alive).

Both terms can, however, differ when contemporary means someone who lives at the same time as another or something which dates back to the same period as another thing (and is not necessarily existing any more):

The composer Salieri was contemporary with Mozart.

Existing means which is present at this moment (and is not necessarily contemporary): the oldest existing house in the village is from the Middle Ages.