When something is impending, it's about to happen soon, usually something significant or serious that you can see coming. An impending storm gathers dark clouds on the horizon. An impending deadline looms just days away. The word carries a sense that you need to prepare or brace yourself.

Think of impending as describing events you know are approaching but haven't arrived yet. Before a big test, you might feel nervous about the impending exam. A town evacuates because of an impending hurricane. A character in a story might sense impending danger when they hear strange sounds in the darkness.

The word suggests something worrisome or challenging rather than something pleasant. You wouldn't typically describe an impending birthday party, but you might describe impending doom in an adventure story or the impending arrival of a difficult winter. The key is that whatever's impending feels close, inevitable, and important enough to think about now.