impending danger

USAGE SUMMARY

"impending danger" is a correct and usable term in written English.
It is used to describe a potential threat or harm that is likely to happen soon. Example sentence: As a storm approached, the residents of the town were warned of the impending danger.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Normally, elephants sleep standing up to be alert to impending danger.

The New York Times

The embassy's entire staff, sensitive to impending danger, had been safely evacuated hours beforehand, and Yemeni leaders apologized to President Obama for the mayhem.

The New York Times

Daimler is also working on ways to make cars brake at red traffic lights.Many of these safety systems at first give warning of impending danger before taking over.

The Economist

If a character can be reached or tracked by phone, it follows that he or she can be warned of impending danger, or rescued from peril.

The Guardian - Books

Taking its name from Signal Rock - the spot where the Macdonald Clan started fires to alert Glen Coe of impending danger - this new eco B&B in the Scottish glens is the latest addition to Glencoe Cottages.

The Guardian - Travel

There is therefore a need to emphasize during breast cancer awareness programs, that a painless lump is significant, though pain is considered a general indicator for impending danger.

BMC Cancer

"My paintings are as much a statement of what may happen as what has happened―a warning of impending danger in terms of present conditions".

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Signals refer to intentional communication while cues refer to information produced incidentally by individuals (Valone 1989; Danchin et al. 2004), e.g. the foraging behaviour of others reveals the location of food while flight behaviour indicates impending danger.

Biology Letters

Extreme restraint in the face of actual impending danger is indistinguishable from passivity.

The New Yorker

The squirrels use these silent screams to warn others of impending danger, the scientists say in the journal Nature.

The New York Times - Science

Freedictionary.com says the term stands for "marked by surreal distortion and often a sense of impending danger".

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "impending danger" when you want to convey a sense of immediacy and certainty about a potential threat. This phrase is useful in both formal and informal contexts to clearly communicate that a dangerous situation is about to occur.

Common error

Avoid using "impending danger" when the threat is uncertain or distant. "Impending" implies near occurrence, whereas "potential risk" suggests a possibility that may or may not materialize. Ensure the context justifies the sense of imminent threat conveyed by "impending danger".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "impending danger" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "impending" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "danger". It describes a state or situation characterized by an approaching threat, as evidenced by the examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

26%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "impending danger" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe an imminent threat or risk. As evidenced by Ludwig, this phrase is used across various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias. While interchangeable with alternatives like "approaching danger" or "imminent threat", it's crucial to ensure its use accurately reflects the nearness of the threat. The Ludwig AI confirms the validity of this phrase, highlighting its established usage and clear communicative function. Understanding its nuances allows for more precise and impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Impending peril

Replaces "danger" with "peril", which carries a slightly more formal or literary tone.

Approaching danger

Substitutes "impending" with "approaching", indicating something is nearing.

Threatening danger

Replaces "impending" with "threatening", emphasizing the menacing aspect.

Imminent threat

Changes the structure to focus on the "threat" and uses "imminent" to convey near occurrence.

Looming threat

Uses "looming" to suggest a large and possibly overwhelming danger.

Emerging danger

Implies that the danger is just starting to become apparent.

Proximate danger

Uses a more formal term, "proximate", to indicate nearness in time or space.

Upcoming danger

A more straightforward way of saying something dangerous is coming.

Incipient danger

Highlights the early stages of a potential danger, implying it's just beginning.

Incumbent danger

Suggests danger is unavoidable or obligatory

FAQs

What does "impending danger" mean?

The phrase "impending danger" refers to a threat or risk that is likely to occur very soon. It indicates that something harmful or dangerous is about to happen.

How to use "impending danger" in a sentence?

You can use "impending danger" to describe situations where a threat is imminent, such as "The weather forecast warned of "impending danger" from the hurricane" or "The animals sensed the "impending danger" and began to flee".

What can I say instead of "impending danger"?

You can use alternatives like "approaching danger", "imminent threat", or "looming threat" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "impending danger" formal or informal language?

"Impending danger" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is commonly used in news reports, scientific articles, and everyday conversation to describe an imminent threat.