impending

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "impending" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is about to occur in the near future. Example: With the impending storm, many people were evacuating the area.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But, as Kauder Nalebuff's book illustrates, this is a subject long mired in shame and confusion – there are girls who know nothing about periods until their first one arrives, and assume it is a sign of impending death.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Similarly dramatic advances in storage and transmission technologies are also in prospect.Meanwhile, existing or impending technology is being applied ever more widely.

The Economist

The pop-cultural success of the irradiated pseudo-dinosaur Godzilla, and the impending release of the film Jurassic World next summer are confirmation that dinosaurs aren't just kids' stuff.

The Guardian - Opinion

Ministers who might have forseen impending disasters were left astonishingly ignorant of major developments in their portfolios.

The Guardian

RB Sheer terror at the impending rush of kingside pawns would make me think about getting my king to safety pretty fast.

The Guardian - Sport

In the meantime, here's more analyst comment, this time from Investec's Brian Barry: The auction will be a litmus test as to demand for their paper given the impending election... if there's a marked increase (in yields) then we'll know investors are getting a bit more worried.

The Guardian - Business

Nigel Farage had been expected to grab between 75 and 100 extra councillors at best, but added nearly 130. Labour MPs and activists, who had tried largely to ignore Ukip's impending arrival as the fourth party in British politics, veered between admitting that it had been hit and that Ed Miliband had to do better, and trying to dismiss Ukip as still so small as to be largely irrelevant.

The Guardian

Sinn Féin, which is straining to keep its anti-austerity policies north and south of the border in alignment, warned of an impending crisis that could "engulf the political institutions" of Northern Ireland.

The Guardian

He brought the two together, using the impending elections of 2005 to create pressure on both to work in common, and, in particular, paper over ideological differences.

The Guardian - Opinion

As a keen proponent of the impending doom scenario, I can't help but agree with them.

The Guardian - Opinion

When the Chinese president-elect Xi Jinping went off the radar for nine days in September 2012, shortly before his accession, there were fewer jokes – China is too opaque a country to joke about – but no sense of impending crisis, despite the persistent rumours of instability within the Chinese communist party.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "impending" to create a sense of anticipation or urgency, especially when discussing deadlines, events, or potential crises. For example, "The "impending" deadline motivated the team to work efficiently."

Common error

Avoid using "impending" and "pending" interchangeably. "Pending" means awaiting a decision or settlement, while "impending" means about to happen. For example, say "the "impending" storm" (about to happen) not "the pending storm".

Linguistic Context

The word "impending" functions primarily as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate that something is about to occur or is close at hand. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes events drawing near, as seen in examples like "impending death" or "impending doom".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "impending" is a versatile adjective used to describe something that is about to happen, often conveying a sense of anticipation or urgency. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical status. It is very common across various contexts, especially in news and formal writing, but requires careful differentiation from similar words like "pending". By following best practices and avoiding common errors, writers can effectively use "impending" to add depth and precision to their communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

imminent

Implies that something is likely to happen very soon, often with a sense of urgency or inevitability.

forthcoming

Suggests that something is going to happen in the near future, often by arrangement or expectation.

approaching

Indicates that something is drawing near, either in time or space.

upcoming

Refers to an event or time that is scheduled or expected to happen soon.

on the horizon

Suggests that something is likely to happen in the future, though not necessarily immediately.

in the offing

Means that something is likely to happen or appear soon.

brewing

Implies that something is developing or about to happen, often something negative.

looming

Suggests that something large or threatening is about to happen.

in the cards

Means that something is likely or certain to happen.

in the pipeline

Refers to something that is being planned or prepared and will happen in the future.

FAQs

How can I use "impending" in a sentence?

"Impending" describes something about to happen, often with a sense of urgency or importance. For example, "The "impending" deadline caused a flurry of activity in the office."

What can I say instead of "impending"?

You can use alternatives like "imminent", "forthcoming", or "approaching" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "impending future"?

While not strictly incorrect, "impending future" can be redundant as "impending" already implies something is about to happen in the future. It's often more concise to simply use "impending" or rephrase the sentence.

What is the difference between "impending" and "imminent"?

While both suggest something is about to happen, "imminent" implies a greater sense of immediacy and certainty than "impending". "Imminent" often suggests something is about to happen right away, while "impending" suggests it's close but not necessarily immediate.