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
- nonpending adjective
- unpending adjective
Etymology
Origin of pending
1635–45; pend + -ing 2, on the model of French pendant ( 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.
The ban was ruled unlawful in February, but remained in place pending an appeal.
From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026
The three children have been placed in temporary care pending the decision of a children's court judge.
From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026
Bianco put the investigation on hold shortly before the California Supreme Court halted it pending further review.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
Some investors were concerned about the company’s loss against BP in arbitration court and other pending claims that could end up costing billions of dollars.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
Those with lawful permanent residency applications pending, and those who haven't filed any paperwork, are still considered "undocumented."
From "Americanized" by Sara Saedi
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.
