impend

verb

im·​pend im-ˈpend How to pronounce impend (audio)
impended; impending; impends

intransitive verb

1
a
: to be about to occur
the impending trial
b
: to hover threateningly : menace
2
archaic : to hang suspended

Examples of impend in a Sentence

for confirmed pessimists some disaster always seems to be impending
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But about half the city’s prewar population of 100,000 still lives here, and there was no visible exodus, despite all the recent warnings of impending doom. Jeffrey Gettleman Finbarr O’Reilly, New York Times, 3 July 2023 Nearly in unison, America’s business class has routinely predicted impending doom for the economy, only to later admit that their forecasts may have been a bit premature. Bywill Daniel, Fortune, 28 June 2023 Wagner’s impending deployment to Belarus has rattled its neighbors. Hanna Arhirova, BostonGlobe.com, 28 June 2023 The veteran Wheel of Fortune cohost is currently in negotiations to stay on the long-running game show after Pat Sajak's impending retirement, EW has confirmed. Lauren Huff, EW.com, 23 June 2023 See all Example Sentences for impend 

Word History

Etymology

Latin impendēre, from in- + pendēre to hang — more at pendant

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of impend was in 1585

Dictionary Entries Near impend

Cite this Entry

“Impend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/impend. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

impend

verb
im·​pend im-ˈpend How to pronounce impend (audio)
1
: to threaten to occur immediately
impending danger
2
: to be about to happen
an impending trip
3
archaic : to hang out or over

More from Merriam-Webster on impend

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