pending
Americanpreposition
-
while awaiting; until.
pending his return.
-
in the period before the decision or conclusion of; during.
pending the negotiations.
adjective
-
remaining undecided; awaiting decision or settlement; unfinished.
pending business; pending questions; pending litigation.
-
about to take place; impending.
preposition
adjective
-
not yet decided, confirmed, or finished
what are the matters pending?
-
imminent
these developments have been pending for some time
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pending
1635–45; pend + -ing 2, on the model of French pendant ( see pendent)
Explanation
If something is supposed to happen but hasn’t happened yet, it is pending, like the pending snowstorm that has everyone scrambling to the store for bread and milk. The word pending comes from the French pendant, meaning “hanging.” If someone leaves you hanging, you are waiting for a call, a message, a visit — whatever the thing is that's supposed to happen. Pending is a good word to use when something has to happen before something else — like if you are learning to drive, maybe you'll have a car of your own soon, pending your success at passing the test.
Vocabulary lists containing pending
The Westing Game
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A Lesson Before Dying
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The Atlantic Charter - Churchill/Roosevelt (1941)
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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.
Pending their departure, they should stay at home, limit their movements and follow instructions from local authorities, it said, adding that they should also keep their relatives informed.
From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026
Pending federal and other approvals, Arizona, Nevada and other Colorado River users could strike water-transfer deals with the San Diego utility.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026
In a statement released Wednesday, Live Nation said: “The jury’s verdict is not the last word on this matter. Pending motions will determine whether the liability and damages rulings stand.”
From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026
Pending home sales in March showed significant increases, with Zillow reporting a 29.8% rise from February and 4.6% year-over-year.
From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026
She had written Proposal Pending on a piece of paper and taped it to the end of a shoe box full of foil and fishing line.
From "When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead
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.
