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

Having him on the bench in favor of a 29-year-old impending free agent is a chance to, well, learn what exactly? —Sam McDowell December 21, Kansas City Star, 22 Dec. 2025

The Denver defensive lineman and impending free agent logged two of the team’s five sacks Sunday against Lawrence. —Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025

The impending playoff scenarios will determine how the Eagles approach those contests. —CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025

Every day, more news about the impending show on HBO. —Literary Hub, 18 Dec. 2025

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