impend

verb

im·​pend im-ˈpend 

impended; impending; impends

intransitive verb

1

a

: to be about to occur

the impending trial

b

: to hover threateningly : menace

2

archaic : to hang suspended

Synonyms

• loom
• brew

Examples of impend in a Sentence

for confirmed pessimists some disaster always seems to be impending

Recent Examples on the Web

Galas’s maid, played by the essential Mary Testa, is a former opera star herself, one who makes ominous pronouncements of impending doom in between her dusting. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025

Whitney warns that the situation is poised to worsen, with impending wage garnishment for seriously delinquent student-loan debt set to further squeeze this cohort. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2025

That Neue Klasse saved BMW from impending financial doom. —James Morris, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025

Democrats, on the other hand, are blasting this move as a sign of impending authoritarianism and call it an unprecedented overreach in presidential authority. —Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 29 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Rhymes for impend

• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• befriend
• boyfriend
• commend
• compend
• contend
• defend
• depend

Kids Definition

impend

verb

im·​pend im-ˈpend 

1

: to threaten to occur immediately

impending danger

2

: to be about to happen

an impending trip

3

archaic : to hang out or over