definitions

impending

[ im-pen-ding ]
/ ɪmˈpɛn dɪŋ /
||
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adjective

about to happen; imminent: their impending marriage.
imminently threatening or menacing: an impending storm.
Archaic. overhanging.

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RELATED WORDS

imminent, looming, approaching, brewing, gathering, threatening, nearing, near, coming, menacing, ominous, proximate

Nearby words

impel, impellent, impeller, impend, impendent, impending, impenetrability, impenetrable, impenitent, impennate, imper.

Origin of impending

First recorded in 1675–85; impend + -ing2

Can be confused

pending impending

Definition for impending (2 of 2)

impend

[ im-pend ]
/ ɪmˈpɛnd /

verb (used without object)

to be imminent; be about to happen.
to threaten or menace: He felt that danger impended.
Archaic. to hang or be suspended; overhang (usually followed by over).

Origin of impend

First recorded in 1580–90, impend is from the Latin word impendēre to hang over, threaten. See im-1, pend

Related forms

su·per·im·pend, verb (used without object)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for impending

British Dictionary definitions for impending (1 of 2)

impending

/ (ɪmˈpɛndɪŋ) /

adjective

about to happen; imminent

British Dictionary definitions for impending (2 of 2)

impend

/ (ɪmˈpɛnd) /

verb (intr)

(esp of something threatening) to be about to happen; be imminent
(foll by over) rare to be suspended; hang

Derived Forms

impendence or impendency, noun

Word Origin for impend

C16: from Latin impendēre to overhang, from pendēre to hang
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012