adj
Common
pending
PEHN-dihng
Pending (adj) means not yet decided or finished; awaiting a result. Example: “Several repairs are still pending, so the building cannot reopen yet.”
adj
1
Not yet decided or finished; awaiting a result.
"Several repairs are still pending, so the building cannot reopen yet."
"The application is still pending approval."
"Her promotion is pending until the board meets."
prep
1
While waiting for; until.
"Please keep your seat belts fastened pending further instructions from the crew."
"The council has put the plan on hold pending a full review."
"The suspect was released pending trial."
How to use pending
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWaiting to be decided, finished, or resolved.
Common pairings
pending approval
pending review
case pending
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Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for pending
ending
sending
bending
lending
mending
spending
unending
blending
trending
defending
ascending
attending
See all rhymes for pending →
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.
