impend

im·pend

intransitive verb \im-ˈpend\

Definition of IMPEND

1

a : to hover threateningly : menace

b : to be about to occur <the impending trial>

2

archaic : to hang suspended

Examples of IMPEND

1. <for confirmed pessimists some disaster always seems to be impending>

Origin of IMPEND

Latin impendēre, from in- + pendēre to hang — more at pendant

First Known Use: 1585

Related to IMPEND

Synonyms

brew, loom

Related Words

advance, approach, close in, draw on, gather, near; hang, hover, lower (also lour), menace, overhang, threaten

Near Antonyms

abate, decline, de-escalate, die down, diminish, disappear, dwindle, ebb, fade, fall, lessen, let up, lower, moderate, recede, relent, remit, shrink, subside, taper, taper off, vanish, wane; fall back, pass, recede, retreat, withdraw

Rhymes with IMPEND

addend, amend, append, ascend, attend, bartend, befriend, Big Bend, bookend, boyfriend, closed-end, commend, compend, contend, dead end, dead-end, defend, depend, descend, distend, downtrend, emend, expend, extend, fag end, forfend, front-end, girlfriend, Gravesend, headend, high-end, hornblende, intend, Land's End, loose end, low-end, missend, misspend, next friend, no end, offend, on end, Ostend, outspend, perpend, pitchblende, portend, pretend, propend, protend, rear-end, resend, sheet bend, South Bend, split end, stipend, subtend, suspend, tag end, tail end, tight end, top-end, transcend, unbend, unkenned, upend, uptrend, weekend, year-end