impending

1 of 2

adjective

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

impending

2 of 2

present participle of impend

Synonyms of impending

Relevance

Adjective

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Examples of impending in a Sentence

Adjective 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
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.
Adjective
Though impending rainstorms are likely to make rescue operations more difficult, officials say a previous threat from a lake that had formed on the border between Nepal and Tibet has substantially subsided. — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026 The lipstick index is an economic theory holding that sales of affordable discretionary spending or luxuries skyrocket when consumers believe an economic recession is impending. — Sarah Glodek, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026 The Move to Manchester The TV Festival’s impending move to Manchester was one of the foremost topics of conversation at this year’s edition. — K.j. Yossman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026 However, there are several small-cap stocks that are poised to weather the impending storm, according to Jefferies. — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for impending

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of impend

First Known Use

Adjective

1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of impending was in 1616

Rhymes for impending

See All Rhymes for impending

Browse Nearby Words

impendent
impending
impenetrability
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Impending.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impending. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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