If something such as a legal procedure is pending, it is waiting to be dealt with or settled.
[formal]
The cause of death was listed as pending.
In 1989, the court had 600 pending cases.
She had a libel action against the magazine pending.
Synonyms: undecided, unsettled, in the balance, up in the air More Synonyms of pending
2. preposition
If something is done pending a future event, it is done until that event happens.
[formal]
A judge has suspended a ban on the magazine pending a full inquiry.
Synonyms: awaiting, until, waiting for, till More Synonyms of pending
3. adjective
Something that is pending is going to happen soon.
[formal]
A growing number of customers have been inquiring about the pending price rises.
Synonyms: forthcoming, imminent, prospective, impending More Synonyms of pending
English Easy Learning GrammarPrepositionsA preposition is one of a small but very common group of words that relate differentitems to each other. Most English prepositions have a number of meanings ... Read more
pending in British English
(ˈpɛndɪŋ)
preposition
1.
while waiting for or anticipating
adjective(postpositive)
2.
not yet decided, confirmed, or finished
what are the matters pending?
3.
imminent
these developments have been pending for some time
pending in American English
(ˈpɛndɪŋ)
adjective
1.
not decided, determined, or established
a pending lawsuit, patent pending
2.
about to happen; impending
preposition
3.
throughout the course or process of; during
pending the review
4.
while awaiting; until
pending his arrival
Word origin
prp. of pend, infl. by Fr pendant, L pendens
Examples of 'pending' in a sentence
pending
It still needed browning and would probably never be eaten, but she disliked leaving things pending.
Richard Francis PROSPECT HILL (2003)
The proceedings would then be adjourned pending the completion of the police investigation.
Matthews, Lew A CONVICTION OF GUILT (2003)
As reports of pending victory filtered back into the command post, the General made his final mistake.
Dobbs, Michael WALL GAMES (2003)
In a larger county, Jeffrey would not have been in charge of notification; he would be off the job pending an investigation.
Karin Slaughter KISSCUT (2003)
In other languages
pending
British English: pending ADJECTIVE
If something such as a legal procedure is pending, it is waiting to be dealt with or settled.
She had a libel action against the magazine pending.