pending
8 synonyms and 0 antonyms for pending, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Not yet decided or finished; awaiting a result.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use pending
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Frequently asked questions
What does “pending” mean?
The word “pending” means not yet decided or finished; awaiting a result. In plain terms, waiting to be decided, finished, or resolved.
How do you pronounce “pending”?
“Pending” is pronounced PEHN-dihng (/ˈpɛndɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “pending” in a sentence?
Here is “pending” used in a sentence: “The application is still pending approval.”
What is another word for “pending”?
Words with a similar meaning to “pending” include in the offing and proximate.
What part of speech is “pending”?
Depending on how it is used, “pending” can be an adjective and a preposition.
Is “pending” a common word?
“Pending” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “pending” have?
“Pending” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: not yet decided or finished; awaiting a result.
What is the difference between pending and impending?
Pending means not yet decided or finished, awaiting a result: "the case is still pending." Impending means about to happen, often said of something threatening: "an impending storm." Something pending hangs unresolved, while something impending is close at hand.
How is pending used as a preposition?
As a preposition, pending means "while waiting for" or "until": "he was released pending trial" means until the trial takes place. This use is especially common in legal and formal writing.
What is the difference between pending and in progress?
Pending means awaiting a decision or result, and the thing may not have started at all. In progress means actively under way. A pending application is sitting in a queue, while an application in progress is being worked on.