pending 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of pendingnext
1
as in unsettled
not yet settled or decided a decision is pending about whether to buy computers or sports equipment with this money

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in upcoming
being soon to appear or take place a pending review of your work so far this term

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in impending
giving signs of immediate occurrence the sky darkened with a pending storm

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pending

2 of 2

preposition

ˈpen-diŋ How to pronounce pending (audio)
as in during
in the course of the government must continue to function pending negotiations for next year's budget

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of pending
Adjective
Instead of looking only at raw home prices, an investor can track the rent-to-income ratio and the pending-active listing ratio. — Justin Donald, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026 That matters for OpenAI because Texas is central to Stargate, with its flagship site in Abilene, and additional pending projects in the state. — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Preposition
Judges have blocked Alabama's and Arkansas' measures from taking effect pending litigation. — Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 16 Nov. 2022 Since Sorokin is currently in Immigration and Enforcement custody pending deportation, the video interview happened in fits and starts because Cooper and Sorokin had to keep reconnecting on the phone when time was up. — Lisa Respers France, CNN, 17 Mar. 2022 See All Example Sentences for pending
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pending
  1. unsettled
  2. upcoming
  3. impending
  4. during
  5. unresolved
  6. approaching
  7. undetermined
  8. coming
Adjective
  • However, the lack of a hybrid option, the touchscreen-heavy climate controls, and the occasionally unsettled ride prevent the Atlas from separating itself from the pack.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But instead of bringing unsettled weather, the offshore storm helped produce cloud-free skies from Maine to Florida.
    — Washington Post, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of unsettled
Adjective
  • The pope’s diagnosis and surgery left his upcoming trip to South America up in the air.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2026
  • There are also deals on women's pajama gift sets in cute holiday prints, like red plaid or holiday dogs, as well as kids' ski apparel for an upcoming winter vacation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of upcoming
Adjective
  • The clanking of cranes slated to descend over the Longwood site also brings the impending divorce of Dana-Farber and its longtime partner, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, one step closer.
    — Marin Wolf — Boston Globe, STAT, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Peak fall color is still potential to be realized, a brilliance whose arrival is impending but unpredictable.
    — Dana Kelley, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of impending
Preposition
  • While traveling with then-President Ronald Reagan in 1981, White House press secretary James Brady was shot during an assassination attempt on the president.
    — Chandelis Duster, NPR, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Several lawmakers tried to crack down on immigration during the 2026 legislative session, but all but one bill failed to cross the finish line.
    — Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of during
Adjective
  • Kim Hong-Cheol, the South Korean military official, said leaving the dispute over the military demarcation line unresolved would increase the risk of accidental clashes because troops from both sides act on their own understanding of the line.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Western governments backing the peace initiative are seeking a new formula to break the impasse while acknowledging that territorial and security questions remain unresolved.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of unresolved
Adjective
  • But Chang, who was then working for a solar-energy startup, found the proceedings unexpectedly disinterested in political strategy, even as the 2024 Presidential election was fast approaching.
    — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania for the 2026 midterm election is fast approaching.
    — Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of approaching
Adjective
  • The pathologists who examined the twins also said their causes of death were undetermined, Filicetti said.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, SPCJ said a break-in and vandalism at a synagogue in Paris's 19th arrondissement initially suggested burglary, although the motive remained undetermined.
    — Ariella Noveck, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of undetermined
Adjective
  • Anthropic reportedly plans to spend $750 billion on adding compute capacity in the coming years, including hundreds of billions in non-cancelable deals, as AI labs race to finance a huge infrastructure buildout.
    — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2026
  • But the new title serves political purposes and could mean quite a lot to visitors, supporters and surrounding communities alike in the coming years.
    — Seth T. Kannarr, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of coming

Browse Nearby Words

pendent
pending
pendulous
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pending. Accessed 26 Oct. 2026.

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