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

All-Star catcher Ivan Herrera publicly acknowledged the impending departure of pitcher Dustin May, bidding him farewell. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

For Ray, an impending free agent, his services are best suited on a team with meaningful baseball still ahead. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 31 July 2026

The impending impact, scientists say, offers a chance to analyze the crater and plume of dust stretching several miles above the surface. — Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 30 July 2026

The result, broken up into seasons and marked by an impending sense of doom, is a multipart puzzle box as intricately folded and tucked as the traditional clothing on display. — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 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