pending

1 of 2

preposition

pend·​ing ˈpen-diŋ How to pronounce pending (audio)
1
: during
their opportunity to develop trade pending the laborious and fruitless negotiationsTheodore 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

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
Judges have blocked Alabama's and Arkansas' measures from taking effect pending litigation. Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 16 Nov. 2022 Since Sorokin is currently in Immigration and Enforcement custody pending deportation, the video interview happened in fits and starts because Cooper and Sorokin had to keep reconnecting on the phone when time was up. Lisa Respers France, CNN, 17 Mar. 2022
Adjective
In a separate and pending case in New York, in which the government has also asked Apple to help extract data from an iPhone under the All Writs Act, Magistrate Judge James Orenstein has so far not been willing to concede the government's arguments. Kim Zetter, WIRED, 25 Feb. 2016 The court was still considering releasing additional pending information when the parties announced the settlement. Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pending 

Word History

Etymology

Preposition and Adjective

French pendant, from present participle of pendre

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

Dictionary Entries Near pending

Cite this Entry

“Pending.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pending. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

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

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