impending

UK: /ɪmˈpɛndɪŋ/ US: /ɪmˈpɛndɪŋ/ ,(im pen′ding)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

im•pend•ing /ɪmˈpɛndɪŋ/   adj. [before a noun]

1. about to happen:
   the impending crisis.

See -pend-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

im•pend•ing  (im pen′ding), adj. 

1. about to happen;
   imminent:
   their impending marriage.
2. imminently threatening or menacing:
   an impending storm.
3. [Archaic.] overhanging.

• impend + -ing² 1675–85

Synonyms

• 1. See imminent. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

impending / ɪmˈpɛndɪŋ/, impendent / ɪmˈpɛndənt/ adjective

1. about to happen; imminent

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

im•pend  (im pend′), v.i. 

1. to be imminent;
   be about to happen.
2. to threaten or menace:
   He felt that danger impended.
3. [Archaic.] to hang or be suspended;
   overhang (usually fol. by over).

• Latin impendēre to hang over, threaten. See im-¹, pend
• 1580–90

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

impend / ɪmˈpɛnd/ verb (intransitive)

1. (esp of something threatening) to be about to happen; be imminent
2. (followed by over) to be suspended; hang

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin impendēre to overhang, from pendēre to hang

imˈpendence, imˈpendency noun