impending

adjective

im·​pend·​ing im-ˈpen-diŋ How to pronounce impending (audio)
: 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

Examples of impending in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The impending commercial real estate crash is just one sign of a struggling economy. Bysydney Lake, Fortune, 20 Nov. 2023 Some of the free tests that the government has stockpiled are also up against impending expiration dates, another reason to move the tests along, O'Connell said. Cheyenne Haslett, ABC News, 20 Nov. 2023 On November 8, just 29 years into Klemp's 170-year prison sentence, the state parole board announced his impending release some time before or on March 15, 2024. Christina Coulter, Fox News, 18 Nov. 2023 Still, The Crown's impending finale doesn't mean there aren't similar shows to tune into. Jacqueline Weiss, Peoplemag, 17 Nov. 2023 That zeal was in stark contrast with the disappointment of a cluster of Oakland fans who waited in the lobby of the posh Arizona Biltmore, where the owners were meeting, and absorbed the news of the impending move. Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023 The company is among many looking to overhaul their fleets to meet impending requirements for zero-emissions commercial trucks in California. Paul Berger, WSJ, 15 Nov. 2023 And given that most people prefer to enjoy a lobster roll in the summer, the impending winter doesn’t leave much room for a sunny outlook on a bump in business. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 15 Nov. 2023 Services are collapsing, and many in the humanitarian sector fear an impending catastrophe. WIRED, 25 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'impending.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of impending was in 1616

Dictionary Entries Near impending

Cite this Entry

“Impending.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impending. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.

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