impending

/ɪmˈpɛndɪŋ/ formal

Say it: im-PEN-ding

adjective About to happen; referring to an event or situation that is approaching, especially one that is significant or threatening.
The coastal town issued an evacuation order ahead of the impending hurricane.

📖 Seen in the wild

The dark clouds and strong winds signaled the impending storm.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ impending in a sentence

With the impending deadline, the team worked overtime to complete the report.
The novel is filled with a sense of impending doom that keeps the reader on edge.
Financial analysts warned of an impending market correction after months of volatility.
She felt a mix of excitement and dread about her impending graduation and entry into the workforce.
Despite the clear signs of an impending system failure, the warnings were ignored.
The two leaders met to discuss the impending food crisis in the region.
A heavy silence fell over the room, thick with the impending announcement.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

imminent looming forthcoming approaching brewing nearing on the horizon close at hand

imminent · suggests something will happen almost immediately, at any moment.

looming · carries a stronger sense of threat or menace.

forthcoming · more neutral and often used for planned events or official announcements.

approaching · a more neutral term that simply emphasizes nearness in time.

Opposites: distant, remote, past, receding, unlikely

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'impending' comes from the Latin verb 'impendere', which means 'to hang over'. This origin perfectly captures the word's modern sense of a future event, often a threatening one, that seems to be hanging over you, waiting to happen.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

impending doomimpending disasterimpending crisisimpending deadlineimpending arrivalimpending danger

'Impending' almost always implies seriousness or importance. While you could technically speak of an 'impending party,' the word's weighty connotation makes it sound strange for casual events. It is best reserved for significant situations like storms, deadlines, or major life changes. Because of this, it is more common in formal writing and speech than in casual conversation.

Word family: impend

💬 Quick answers

What does impending mean?

It describes an event or situation, typically a serious one, that is about to happen very soon. Think of it as something looming on the horizon.

What's the difference between impending and imminent?

They are very close, but 'imminent' often suggests a more immediate timeframe, that something could happen at any moment. 'Impending' suggests something is looming and will happen soon, but not necessarily in the next few seconds.

Is impending a negative word?

It often carries a negative or serious connotation because it's frequently paired with words like 'doom,' 'disaster,' or 'crisis.' While it can be neutral, it usually implies a weighty event.

Can you use impending for good things?

Yes, but it's less common and can sound overly dramatic. For a positive event, 'upcoming' or 'forthcoming' is usually a more natural choice than, for example, 'the impending celebration'.

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