pend·ing
ˈpen-diŋ 
1
: during
their opportunity to develop trade pending the laborious and fruitless negotiations—
Theodore Hsi-En Chen
Theodore Hsi-En Chen2
: while awaiting
pending approval
were held in custody pending trial
Synonyms
Preposition
Adjective
Examples of pending in a Sentence
Preposition
He is being held in jail pending trial.
She received a four-year sentence and is currently out on bail pending appeal.
Adjective
The results of the investigation are pending.
There are lawsuits pending against the company.
Recent Examples on the WebJo Yurcaba, NBC News, 16 Nov. 2022
Since Sorokin is currently in Immigration and Enforcement custody pending deportation, the video interview happened in fits and starts because Cooper and Sorokin had to keep reconnecting on the phone when time was up.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN, 17 Mar. 2022
Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 24 Oct. 2024
Manila and Kuala Lumpur, however, have been locked in a territorial dispute for over six decades; Manila has a pending claim to Sabah, Malaysia’s second-largest state, filed with the United Nations, which no Philippine president has attempted to drop.
—Marites Dañguilan Vitug, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pending 
Preposition
Judges have blocked Alabama's and Arkansas' measures from taking effect pending litigation.
—Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 16 Nov. 2022
Since Sorokin is currently in Immigration and Enforcement custody pending deportation, the video interview happened in fits and starts because Cooper and Sorokin had to keep reconnecting on the phone when time was up.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN, 17 Mar. 2022
Adjective
The court was still considering releasing additional pending information when the parties announced the settlement.
—Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 24 Oct. 2024
Manila and Kuala Lumpur, however, have been locked in a territorial dispute for over six decades; Manila has a pending claim to Sabah, Malaysia’s second-largest state, filed with the United Nations, which no Philippine president has attempted to drop.
—Marites Dañguilan Vitug, Foreign Affairs, 18 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for pending
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pending.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near pending
Cite this Entry
“Pending.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pending. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pending
1 of 2 preposition
pend·ing
ˈpen-diŋ
: while waiting for
held in jail pending a trial
pending
2 of 2 adjective1
: not yet decided or acted on
bills pending in Congress
2
: being about to take place
signs of a pending victory
Legal Definition
pending
1 of 2 preposition
pend·ing
ˈpen-diŋ
1
: during the time of
2
: while awaiting : in the time preceding
held in escrow pending the outcome of the suit
free pending trial
pending
2 of 2 adjective1
: not yet decided
a pending suit
2
: to occur or be realized soon
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