We postponed our picnic pending a change in the weather.
Source: tatoeba (22803)
Pending
/ˈpɛndɪŋ/
Synonyms for "pending" (140 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (28)
Adjective(7 words)
Noun(3 words)
at issueawaitingbeetlebeetle browedbeetle-browedbeetlingcascadingconditionalconditionedcontingentdanglingdependentdependingdepending onduranteduringfallingfalling loosely
Strong matches (42)
Related words (70)
Noun(7 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Adjective(33 words)
remainingsub judicesubject to reviewsuspensiveunansweredunassessedunassignedunassigned taskuncataloguedunclearedundecidedundefined notationunder considerationundetermined in courtundetermined statusunexecuted contractunexecuted pathunfinalizedunidentified objectunmade decisions
Show 13 more words
unprocessedunquantified massunreachedunresolvedunresolved conflictunresolved disputeunresolved in lawunspecified depthunspecified lawunsubmitted workunverifiedunverified beliefsupcoming days
Determiner(1 words)
some remain
Preposition(1 words)
under review
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abeyant, advancing, amount due, at issue, awaiting.
- Sentence evidence is available for pending, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from derived_reverse, moby, opengloss, wiktionary, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "pending".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "pending"
Keep "pending" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "pending" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "pending", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "pending" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
7 entriesMore specific
12 entriespending appealpending approvalpending authorizationpending casepending clearancepending decisionpending examinationpending licensepending litigationpending motionpending paymentpending review
Collocations
6 entriespending approvalpending decisionpending licensepending litigationpending paymentspending review
Inflections
2 entriesmore pendingmost pending
Derivations
1 entriessimilar
1 entriesSample sentences
12 total sentences available.
The debate on spending is pending.
Source: tatoeba (2161997)
Some of the seams of the dress were held together only loosely by basting stitches, pending the final fitting.
Source: tatoeba (3028955)
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Source: tatoeba (4495713)
Showing 4 of 12 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "pending"?
Closest matches include abeyant, advancing, amount due, at issue, awaiting.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "pending"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.