impending
Americanadjective
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about to happen; imminent.
their impending marriage.
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imminently threatening or menacing.
an impending storm.
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Archaic. overhanging.
adjective
Related Words
See imminent.
Etymology
Origin of impending
Explanation
If something is impending, it is about to happen. If you hear thunder in the distance, you might go inside to escape the impending storm. The word impending often refers to something threatening or frightening: impending doom, impending disaster. Something that is impending hangs over you — you might say, "I was so distracted by thoughts of my impending failure in my exams, I couldn't study." A synonym is imminent.
Vocabulary lists containing impending
100 Words Every Middle Schooler Should Know
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Essential Academic Vocabulary for Middle School Students, List 4
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Things Fall Apart
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Moreno-Gama allegedly carried documents discussing potential risks that AI poses to humanity, with a section titled: "Some more words on the matter of our impending extinction."
From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026
But first, how do we get from unemployed house sitter to impending Italian nuptials?
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
Roland added that the bond market isn’t necessarily flashing signs of impending doom in private credit either.
From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026
Some analysts think this is finally the year that Apple will unveil a foldable iPhone — and the impending launch has been hailed as a potential catalyst for the stock.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026
I felt weak and powerless in the knowledge of the impending doom.
From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
