impended; impending; impends
1
a
: to be about to occur
rain impended
b
: to hover threateningly : menace
… the pressing problems that now impend upon the region …—
Arturo Cruz Jr. et al.
Arturo Cruz Jr. et al.2
archaic
: to hang suspended
Examples of impend in a Sentence
for confirmed pessimists some disaster always seems to be impending
Recent Examples on the Web
During an eclipse, people would bang drums, shoot arrows, or create loud noises to scare the dragon away, as a red moon was seen as a sign of impending misfortune or celestial imbalance.
—Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson and safety Jaylinn Hawkins, both starters in 2025, are impending free agents, and both players could have robust markets.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles could put together a package around those three picks, perhaps a sign-and-trade involving impending unrestricted free agent Austin Reeves and other players.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
But the entire league spending almost a week in Indianapolis leads to a lot of conversations about trade scenarios, impending contract decisions and free-agent landing spots.
—Zac Jackson, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for impend
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Alan Bradley, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Outside linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson and safety Jaylinn Hawkins, both starters in 2025, are impending free agents, and both players could have robust markets.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles could put together a package around those three picks, perhaps a sign-and-trade involving impending unrestricted free agent Austin Reeves and other players.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
But the entire league spending almost a week in Indianapolis leads to a lot of conversations about trade scenarios, impending contract decisions and free-agent landing spots.
—Zac Jackson, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for impend
Cite this Entry
“Impend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impend. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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