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.
"It's a triple shock. First, the devastating floods late last year, now soaring fuel prices and then there's an impending drought in some areas," Wignaraja said.
From BBC • Apr. 11, 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
When rumors began floating about the impending acquisition Wednesday, some OpenAI employees thought it was an April Fool’s joke.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
Still, Dorsheimer said the impending merger with Veeco “will complement Axcelis’s singular focus on ion implant and cast a wider net to cover semiconductor capital equipment.”
From MarketWatch • Mar. 28, 2026
As he stands, hands on hips, nodding at the Blue Flash, I think about impending weightless doom.
From "All The Bright Places" by Jennifer Niven
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.
