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Definition of impending

impending

/ɪmˈpɛn.dɪŋ/
im · pend · ing
Adverb:impendingly
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impending Lexical Profile

impending Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

About to happen; forthcoming or approaching soon (especially of something significant, ominous, or unwelcome).

Example

"The dark clouds on the horizon warned the hikers of the impending storm."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for impending
Antonyms
View all antonyms for impending

Word Nuance & Usage

'Impending' and 'imminent' both mean about to happen, but 'impending' often implies something that has been hanging over a situation for some time (usually ominous or significant), whereas 'imminent' emphasizes immediate proximity in time.

• Rhymes for impending

• Nearby Words

impediment
impel
impeller
impending
impenetrable
imperative
imperatively

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the present participle of the verb 'impend', which comes from the Latin 'impendere', meaning 'to hang over' or 'to be imminent' (from 'in-', meaning 'upon' or 'toward', and 'pendere', meaning 'to hang').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Impending. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/impending
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