impending

1 of 2

adjective

im·​pend·​ing im-ˈpen-diŋ 

: occurring or likely to occur soon : upcoming

impending trials

impending motherhood

… scientists who rely on the satellite signals for hints of impending earthquakes and volcanic eruptions …

—R. Monastersky

… heed the warnings of impending disaster.

—Publishers Weekly

… many of us secretly enjoy the sassier commercials and elegant layouts, not to mention being told of impending sales.

—Andrew Hacker

impending

2 of 2

present participle of impend

Synonyms of impending

Adjective

• upcoming
• approaching
• coming

Examples of impending in a Sentence

Adjective

an impending celebration of the 100th anniversary of the college's founding

an aura of impending doom hung over the city

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Moeller noted the short timeline and quick turnaround of the decision were due to impending election deadlines. — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 5 Sep. 2026

The offseason, regardless of what goes on (with an impending lockout). — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has denied accusations that the government ignored warnings about an impending mass border crossing from Morocco to the enclave of Ceuta. — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026

There also appears to be nervousness fueled by persistent rumors of an impending troop mobilization — like the widely unpopular one in September 2022 that drafted 300,000 men. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of impend

First Known Use

Adjective

1616, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for impending

• amending
• appending
• ascending
• attending
• befriending
• commending
• contending
• defending
• depending
• descending
• distending
• expending