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

Curtis Jones’ impending exit to Inter Milan has increased the desire for a new midfielder. — Andy Jones, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Summary The Phillies face a significant third base dilemma with Alec Bohm's impending free agency. — Anthony Stitt, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

The debate was sparked not by an impending reality but instead by comments from a player who’s no stranger to controversy. — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026

That's bittersweet for some people given the seasonal shift ahead, an impending change than can sour summer's last full month. — Jeff Wagner, CBS News, 18 Aug. 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