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 year’s crop of impending free agents is headlined by Jennings, all due respect to Piñeiro’s savior turn last season. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2026

Jonah Savaiinaea, who struggled massively as Miami’s rookie starting left guard, and Kion Smith as the only veteran offensive guard on the roster because Cole Strange, Larry Borum, and Daniel Brunskill are all impending free agents. —Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 16 Feb. 2026

The series follows a teenage boy who forms an unlikely alliance with the Fairy Queen of Celtic lore to search for malevolent mythical creatures from around the world, among them the Yeti, Baba Yaga and a Lady Dracula — not to destroy them, but to save them from impending doom. —Ed Meza, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026

Though some analysts have long warned of impending mass mortgage defaults in China, others think fears may be overblown. —Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 13 Feb. 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