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

Plus, a look at how Orange County leaders scrapped a proposal for a sales tax initiative to pay for conservation and infrastructure projects, the impending court fight over plans to build a road on conservation land, and the ongoing drought across Florida. —Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026

While the impending cold snap in the East will feel like major whiplash, the weather shift in the West will be far more significant. —Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026

Cave is hoping to hire local teachers to fill the gaps left by several teachers' impending departures. —ABC News, 11 Mar. 2026

Hugh Ulrich left a gas station in Lake Village Tuesday evening after learning of the impending storm. —Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 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