present participle of pend
"The old chandelier swung gently back and forth, its motion pending from the ceiling hook."
In plain English: To be pending means to wait for something to happen before it can be finished.
"The decision on whether to approve the budget is pending further review by the committee."
Usage: As a verb, pending means to remain undecided or in a state of suspension until a final decision is made. Use it to describe situations like legal cases, approvals, or events that are waiting for resolution rather than being completed yet.
Awaiting a conclusion or a confirmation.
"The final decision on our vacation plans is pending until we hear back from the travel agency."
In plain English: Pending means something is waiting to happen or be decided until more information arrives.
"The final decision on the new policy is pending approval from the board."
Usage: Use pending as an adjective to describe a situation, decision, or matter that is currently waiting for a final outcome before it can be resolved. It implies that the status remains uncertain until further action or approval occurs.
While waiting for something; until.
"The final decision regarding the merger remains pending until the board approves the proposal next week."
Derived from Old French pendre (to hang), this term originally meant literally hanging or suspended, often referring to something awaiting decision like a case on trial. It evolved in English to describe any situation that is waiting to be resolved or completed.