pending

Everyday

1. Pending means waiting to be decided, done or finished. tree →
2. (formal) As a preposition, pending means until something happens: «pending further notice». tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life it appears on screens and forms: «payment pending», «order pending», «result pending». In formal and official language: «The pupil is excluded pending an inquiry». In stories it shows something is about to happen. Phrases: «pending approval», «still pending», «pending a decision».

Examples

• My order is still pending. tree →
• The match is postponed pending a pitch inspection. tree →
• Your application is pending. tree →
• The decision is pending until Monday. tree →
• The download shows «pending». tree →
• (formal) The library is closed pending repairs. tree →
• The payment is pending, so it hasn't arrived yet. tree →
• We have three pending tasks on the list. tree →
• "Your honor," he said, "the case has now been pending for six weeks. tree →

Note

As a preposition it is formal; everyday English says «until» or «while waiting for». Pending money has not arrived yet: in maths about bank balances, a pending payment is not counted until it clears.