impending

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

Synonyms of impending

• upcoming
• approaching
• coming

Examples of impending in a Sentence

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

Mosoff pauses with the unmistakable air of impending confession. —Charlie Campbell, Time, 25 May 2026

Several of the A-list couple's friends have avoided questions about their impending nuptials. —Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 25 May 2026

Of course, Guardiola made his own decision to depart Manchester City at the end of the season after Bernardo’s impending exit was announced. —Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026

Manager Matt Quatraro shared some encouraging news on Sunday about the right-handed starter’s impending return. —Jaylon Thompson may 24, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of impend

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for impending

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