pending

1 of 2

preposition

pend·​ing ˈpen-diŋ How to pronounce pending (audio)
Synonyms of pending
1
: during
… their opportunity to develop trade pending the laborious and fruitless negotiations.—Theodore Hsi-En Chen
2
: while awaiting
pending approval
were held in custody pending trial

pending

2 of 2

adjective

1
: not yet decided : being in continuance
the case is still pending
2
: imminent, impending

Synonyms of pending

Relevance

Preposition

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of pending in a Sentence

Preposition He is being held in jail pending trial. She received a four-year sentence and is currently out on bail pending appeal. Adjective The results of the investigation are pending. There are lawsuits pending against the company.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Preposition
Although a federal judge issued an injunction to keep the program alive pending higher court review, the young immigrants stand to lose their right to work, travel and attend school. — Carolyn Lochhead, San Francisco Chronicle, 27 Jan. 2018 Judges have blocked Alabama's and Arkansas' measures from taking effect pending litigation. — Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 16 Nov. 2022
Adjective
Lawsuits challenging the legality of the fund remain pending. — Dan Mangan, CNBC, 8 June 2026 So far, 12 measures are currently set to appear on voters’ November ballot with four more pending. — Evelyn Ronan, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for pending

Word History

Etymology

Preposition

probably as partial translation of French pendant "during," present participle of pendre "to hang" — more at pendent

Note: In French, pendant, the present participle of pendre "to hang," developed into a preposition through its use in legal language in Old and Middle French (as well as in Anglo-French). In expressions such as le plait pendant "the lawsuit [being] not yet settled" (literally "the suit hanging"), le debat pendant "deliberation not having concluded," if the word pendant was preposed (pendant le plait, pendant le debat), it could be construed as a preposition and extended to non-legal uses. The le plait pendant construction is a calque of post-classical Latin ablative absolute constructions such as judicio pendente "the judgment not yet made" (literally, "hanging"), lite pendente "the lawsuit not yet settled." Pending might be taken as a partial anglicization of pendent in the sense "remaining undetermined," rather than an adaptation of French pendant, but pendent in this meaning is first attested about the same time as pending, in the early seventeenth century. The late date is striking given the frequency of these constructions in both Anglo-French and British Medieval Latin.

Adjective

Note: See etymology and note at pending entry 1.

First Known Use

Preposition

1642, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1643, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pending was in 1642

Rhymes for pending

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Browse Nearby Words

pendill
pending
pendle
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pending.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pending. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

pending

1 of 2 preposition
pend·​ing ˈpen-diŋ How to pronounce pending (audio)
: while waiting for
held in jail pending a trial

pending

2 of 2 adjective
1
: not yet decided or acted on
bills pending in Congress
2
: being about to take place
signs of a pending victory

Legal Definition

pending

1 of 2 preposition
pend·​ing ˈpen-diŋ How to pronounce pending (audio)
1
: during the time of
2
: while awaiting : in the time preceding
held in escrow pending the outcome of the suit
free pending trial

pending

2 of 2 adjective
1
: not yet decided
a pending suit
2
: to occur or be realized soon

More from Merriam-Webster on pending

Nglish: Translation of pending for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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