impend
/ɪmˈpɛnd
/verb [no object] (usually as adjective impending)
1Be about to happen: my impending departure...
- The light was difficult now with sunset impending, and his vision was untrustworthy.
- As it happens my birthday impends so on the day I shall raise a (non-alcoholic) glass to both of you peoples of those religions and wish you well.
- People's concerns over the summer were dominated less by impending elections than by electricity bills.
Synonyms
imminent, at hand, close, close at hand, near, nearing, approaching, coming, forthcoming, upcoming, to come, on the way, about to happen, upon us, in store, in the offing, in the pipeline, on the horizon, in the air, in the wind, brewing, looming, looming large, threatening, menacing
informal on the cards
1.1 archaic (Of something bad) be looming: the melancholy fate which impended over his nephew...
- Of the three really huge catastrophes impending in the next century, it seems improbable that we can avoid more than one or two.
- At time of going to press a resolution had not been found, and strike action was impending.
- The morning, like the past few, was heavy and gray, and rain impended.
Origin
Late 16th century: from Latin impendere, from in- 'towards, upon' + pendere 'hang'.