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

Peak fall color is still potential to be realized, a brilliance whose arrival is impending but unpredictable. — Dana Kelley, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026

Rumors of Frow’s impending departure had been bubbling in the industry in some months. — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026

That includes pitching coach Matt Blake and director of catching Tanner Swanson, two impending free agents the team would be wise to retain after exercising club options on them last offseason. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 13 Oct. 2026

The seat The business class cabin is low-lit in blues and purples—a nice touch for the impending red eye—and the 30 seats are arranged in 7 rows of 1-2-1 configuration. — Charlie Hobbs, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 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