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pending

pending

18 3.0
Waiting for a decision or result
  • adjective
  • /ˈpɛndɪŋ/
translation icon : pendiente
  • I have a pending task request.
  • pending cases
  • pending bill
  • pending claims

So they're actually pending, but let's just go with them.

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Examples

  • The most critical issue facing the band and the community, however, is the pending land claims resolutions.

    Academic text (1992)
  • " Neither the FBI nor this office has a pending investigation related to this matter."

    Blog text (8)
  • Yes, production starts next week, pending my approval.

  • I think the whole city is excited about your pending nomination.

  • I was excited to hear of the pending 3D release of the 1986 movie "Top Gun."

    Blog text (16)
  • But he said he couldn't comment further, due to a pending legal claim.

    Academic text (2016)
  • Given the pending regulations, this subpart does not explore every possible avenue for reform.

    Academic text (2017)
  • You are aware of the pending new rules regarding fraternization among officers, aren't you?

  • Ms. Mangum declined to comment to the newspaper, citing the pending litigation.

    Academic text (2016)
  • The project will be delayed due to a pending decision from the board.

Synonyms

on the table
vspending
205 3.5

Available for discussion or decision later

is unresolved but not necessarily presented for discussion
on hold
vspending
169 2.5

Stopped for a short time until someone decides to continue

waits for a decision rather than being deliberately paused
in the hopper
vspending
  • Informal
3 8.2

Waiting to be acted on or decided

awaits a decision without active preparation

Antonyms

3.2

Solved or explained so it is no longer a problem

2.6

Very clear and easy to notice

1.0

Finished and not needing any more work

How Resolved

consummated
  • Formal
6.8
decided
2.6
resolved
3.2
pending
18 3.0
undecided
75 2.9
unresolved
56 4.4

Surface Forms

pending positive

Morphology

pending = pend (transparent) = pend + ing

Formed regularly by adding -ing to the verb 'pend' (meaning 'to await'), so the adjectival meaning 'awaiting' follows directly from the base verb.

Etymology

The word pending comes from the old Latin word pendere, which means 'to hang', and you can see the same idea in pendulum, a weight that hangs and swings. So if something is pending it is like it is 'hanging' in the air, still waiting and not decided or finished yet.