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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pending
Eva Wen, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
But while Lee has helped establish a $60 million state grant fund to attract new nuclear investments in Tennessee, after two years of existence, contracts have been finalized for just over $7 million, with $11 million more pending.
—Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
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
Adjective
Attorneys have also raised concerns about the increase in arrests of people with pending charges, who are presumed innocent, and disrupting their ability to mount a defense.
—Eva Wen, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
But while Lee has helped establish a $60 million state grant fund to attract new nuclear investments in Tennessee, after two years of existence, contracts have been finalized for just over $7 million, with $11 million more pending.
—Vivian Jones, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
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
Adjective
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The line was one of the more questionable position groups heading into the season opener, with an unsettled lineup for most of fall camp.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
5 Sep. 2025
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Patrick Modiano’s grand theme is memory in unsettled times, with the characters in his novels caught between a mysterious past and a discordant present.—
Ruth Margalit,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Of these teams, only Real Madrid, PSV and Sporting CP are playing in this season’s tournament (the figures in the right-hand column exclude the upcoming campaign).—
Will Jeanes,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
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Luke Newtown, of Bridgerton fame, will take on the role of McQueen opposite Catherine LaFrere as Isabella Blow (who is the subject of her own upcoming biopic, by the way) and Emily Skinner as Lee’s mother, Joyce McQueen.—
Vogue Runway,
Vogue,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Punk is deeply tied into current main-event storylines with real-life married couple Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch, so the impending couples brawl is a great story.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Anthony, the best player in college basketball that season, was clearly set to be a top-three pick in that June's impending 2003 NBA Draft, which also included fellow future Hall of Famers LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.—
Alex Kirschenbaum,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
Preposition
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Glen Stevenson, 63, is accused of killing 46-year-old Salvador Rabago during an altercation between the two men.—
Chris Spargo,
People.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Defensive end Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts during the NFL preseason 2025 game at State Farm Stadium on August 23, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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What drew you to a road trip as a narrative structure to explore these characters’ unresolved dynamics?—
Willing Davidson,
New Yorker,
7 Sep. 2025
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That due to the flood of unresolved customer issues caused by the AI chatbot the bank used to replace 45 call-center roles, CX Today wrote.—
Peter Cohan,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Ensemble Español, touted as one of the world’s best Spanish dance organizations, kicks off its 50th season this fall, a milestone Hubbard Street Dance Chicago is also fast approaching.—
Lauren Warnecke,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
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Hunting seasons are fast approaching.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Aug. 2025
Preposition
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It's taken some time for scientists to learn how to interpret the data by separating out natural sources of natural carbon dioxide emissions from those caused by human activity.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
6 Sep. 2025
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Find out by viewing our fan gallery from the game against James Madison College.—
Ray Padilla,
Louisville Courier Journal,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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At this time, the containment status is unknown and the cause of the fire remains undetermined.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Safety, tight end and cornerback roles also could be undetermined.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
21 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pending. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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