impend

verb

im·​pend im-ˈpend 

impended; impending; impends

intransitive verb

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.

2

archaic : to hang suspended

Synonyms of impend

• loom
• brew

Examples of impend in a Sentence

for confirmed pessimists some disaster always seems to be impending

Recent Examples on the Web

This would capitalize on already nascent industry interest in hedging against biosecurity risks, trade bans, tariffs and provenance issues arising from European Union’s impending Digital Product Passport. —Patty Huntington, Sourcing Journal, 17 Mar. 2026

That would be Tarik Skubal, two-time Cy Young Award winner, ace of the Detroit Tigers, impending free agent and a fellow who is scheduled to start on Opening Day just two weeks from now. —Jayson Stark, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026

Blankfein is far from the first financial heavyweight to warn of impending turmoil. —Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 4 Mar. 2026

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

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin impendēre "to hang above, be suspended, be about to happen (of something undesirable), threaten," from im- im- + pendēre "to hang" — more at pendent

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