impending

adjective

im·​pend·​ing im-ˈpen-diŋ How to pronounce impending (audio)
Synonyms of impendingnext
: 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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Their impending return to Earth would come less than two weeks after their replacements arrived on the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026 As temperatures begin to cool, your gardening to-do list may include harvesting herbs that won’t survive impending freezing weather. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2026 The ruling could be impacted by a separate impending decision from the Supreme Court over the Louisiana House map and the Voting Rights Act. Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 14 Jan. 2026 Raley's confirmed the impending closure of its store on Douglas Boulevard to CBS Sacramento. Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for impending

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of impend

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of impending was in 1616

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Cite this Entry

“Impending.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impending. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.

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