diff --git a/docs/ai-python/content/docs/basics/human-in-the-loop.mdx b/docs/ai-python/content/docs/basics/human-in-the-loop.mdx
index 9a7b2c37..0424706b 100644
--- a/docs/ai-python/content/docs/basics/human-in-the-loop.mdx
+++ b/docs/ai-python/content/docs/basics/human-in-the-loop.mdx
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ async with agent.run(model, messages) as stream:
     async for event in stream:
         if (
             isinstance(event, ai.events.HookEvent)
-            and event.hook.status == "deferred"
+            and event.hook.status == "pending"
         ):
             print(event.hook.hook_id, event.hook.metadata)
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ async with agent.run(model, messages) as stream:
     async for event in stream:
         if (
             isinstance(event, ai.events.HookEvent)
-            and event.hook.status == "deferred"
+            and event.hook.status == "pending"
         ):
             # interrupt the loop
             ai.defer_hook(event.hook)
diff --git a/examples/agents/custom_hook.py b/examples/agents/custom_hook.py
index 9883224c..6e5baf3d 100644
--- a/examples/agents/custom_hook.py
+++ b/examples/agents/custom_hook.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ async def main() -> None:
                 print(event.chunk, end="", flush=True)
             elif (
                 isinstance(event, ai.events.HookEvent)
-                and event.hook.status == "deferred"
+                and event.hook.status == "pending"
             ):
                 print(f"\n[deferred] {event.hook.hook_id}")
                 ai.resolve_hook(
diff --git a/examples/agents/tool_approval.py b/examples/agents/tool_approval.py
index 642b0e25..fa483862 100644
--- a/examples/agents/tool_approval.py
+++ b/examples/agents/tool_approval.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ async def live(messages: list[ai.messages.Message]) -> None:
                 print(event.chunk, end="", flush=True)
             elif (
                 isinstance(event, ai.events.HookEvent)
-                and event.hook.status == "deferred"
+                and event.hook.status == "pending"
             ):
                 print(f"\n[deferred] {event.hook.hook_id}")
                 ai.resolve_hook(
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ async def stateless(
                 print(event.chunk, end="", flush=True)
             elif (
                 isinstance(event, ai.events.HookEvent)
-                and event.hook.status == "deferred"
+                and event.hook.status == "pending"
             ):
                 deferred.append(event.hook)
                 print(f"\n[deferred] {event.hook.hook_id}")
diff --git a/examples/apps/coding_agent/main.py b/examples/apps/coding_agent/main.py
index ab8a6ca6..3c977b26 100644
--- a/examples/apps/coding_agent/main.py
+++ b/examples/apps/coding_agent/main.py
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ async def _run_turn(self) -> None:
 
     def _on_hook(self, hook: ai.messages.HookPart[Any]) -> None:
         """Mount or dismiss an approval prompt for a hook signal."""
-        if hook.status == "deferred":
+        if hook.status == "pending":
             prompt = ApprovalPrompt(hook)
             self.query_one("#dock").mount(prompt, before=self.composer)
             if not isinstance(self.focused, ApprovalPrompt):
diff --git a/examples/apps/web_agent/backend/main.py b/examples/apps/web_agent/backend/main.py
index 2e295367..670faaf6 100644
--- a/examples/apps/web_agent/backend/main.py
+++ b/examples/apps/web_agent/backend/main.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ async def process() -> AsyncGenerator[ai.events.AgentEvent]:
                 async for event in result:
                     if (
                         isinstance(event, ai.events.HookEvent)
-                        and event.hook.status == "deferred"
+                        and event.hook.status == "pending"
                     ):
                         ai.defer_hook(event.hook)
                     yield event
diff --git a/skills/ai-python-serverless-execution/SKILL.md b/skills/ai-python-serverless-execution/SKILL.md
index 9364b9f0..27b0e6d2 100644
--- a/skills/ai-python-serverless-execution/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/ai-python-serverless-execution/SKILL.md
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ async with agent.run(model, messages) as stream:
     async for event in stream:
         if (
             isinstance(event, ai.events.HookEvent)
-            and event.hook.status == "deferred"
+            and event.hook.status == "pending"
         ):
             deferred_hooks.append(event.hook)
             ai.defer_hook(event.hook)
diff --git a/skills/ai-python-ui-adapter/SKILL.md b/skills/ai-python-ui-adapter/SKILL.md
index c8aa5b45..f3b0a98c 100644
--- a/skills/ai-python-ui-adapter/SKILL.md
+++ b/skills/ai-python-ui-adapter/SKILL.md
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ async def body():
             async for event in stream:
                 if (
                     isinstance(event, ai.events.HookEvent)
-                    and event.hook.status == "deferred"
+                    and event.hook.status == "pending"
                 ):
                     ai.defer_hook(event.hook)
                 yield event
diff --git a/src/ai/agents/agent.py b/src/ai/agents/agent.py
index 4ce6c666..386adb16 100644
--- a/src/ai/agents/agent.py
+++ b/src/ai/agents/agent.py
@@ -1011,7 +1011,7 @@ def _track(self, event: events_.AgentEvent) -> events_.AgentEvent:
         if isinstance(event, events_.RunBlocked):
             self._blocked = True
         elif isinstance(event, events_.HookEvent):
-            if event.hook.status == "deferred":
+            if event.hook.status == "pending":
                 self._deferred_hooks[event.hook.hook_id] = event.hook
             else:
                 # A blocked run can only resume via a hook resolution
@@ -1148,7 +1148,7 @@ def deferred_tool_result(
             )
 
     The hook itself is surfaced separately via the ``HookPart`` already
-    emitted by ``ai.hook()`` (status=``"deferred"``) which downstream
+    emitted by ``ai.hook()`` (status=``"pending"``) which downstream
     consumers (e.g. the ai-sdk UI bridge) use to render the actual
     approval state.
     """
diff --git a/src/ai/agents/hooks.py b/src/ai/agents/hooks.py
index 4afb6e05..e421a4aa 100644
--- a/src/ai/agents/hooks.py
+++ b/src/ai/agents/hooks.py
@@ -145,11 +145,11 @@ async def _hook_impl(call: middleware_.HookContext) -> pydantic.BaseModel:
         _live_hooks[label] = (future, hook_metadata, rt)
         rt.track_hook_label(label)
 
-        # Emit deferred signal.
+        # Emit pending signal.
         hook_part: messages_.HookPart[Any] = messages_.HookPart(
             hook_id=label,
             hook_type=payload.__name__,
-            status="deferred",
+            status="pending",
             metadata=hook_metadata,
             tool_call_id=call.tool_call_id,
         )
diff --git a/src/ai/agents/ui/ai_sdk/approvals.py b/src/ai/agents/ui/ai_sdk/approvals.py
index cb2afbaa..4384f479 100644
--- a/src/ai/agents/ui/ai_sdk/approvals.py
+++ b/src/ai/agents/ui/ai_sdk/approvals.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def hook_part_from_tool_part(tp: ToolPart) -> messages_.HookPart[Any] | None:
         return messages_.HookPart(
             hook_id=approval.id,
             hook_type=TOOL_APPROVAL_HOOK_TYPE,
-            status="deferred",
+            status="pending",
             metadata=metadata,
             tool_call_id=tp.tool_call_id,
         )
diff --git a/src/ai/agents/ui/ai_sdk/outbound_messages.py b/src/ai/agents/ui/ai_sdk/outbound_messages.py
index f29b741b..08404efc 100644
--- a/src/ai/agents/ui/ai_sdk/outbound_messages.py
+++ b/src/ai/agents/ui/ai_sdk/outbound_messages.py
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ def merge_approval_signals(
         is_automatic = part.metadata.get("isAutomatic")
         is_automatic = is_automatic if isinstance(is_automatic, bool) else None
         match part.status:
-            case "deferred":
+            case "pending":
                 updates["state"] = "approval-requested"
                 updates["approval"] = ui_messages.UIToolApproval.model_validate(
                     {
diff --git a/src/ai/agents/ui/ai_sdk/outbound_stream.py b/src/ai/agents/ui/ai_sdk/outbound_stream.py
index 7e379918..808de5d5 100644
--- a/src/ai/agents/ui/ai_sdk/outbound_stream.py
+++ b/src/ai/agents/ui/ai_sdk/outbound_stream.py
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ def on_tool_result(
             if part.tool_call_id in self.emitted_tool_results:
                 continue
             # Hook deferral placeholders are internal bookkeeping: the
-            # corresponding HookPart(deferred) drives the UI state.
+            # corresponding pending HookPart drives the UI state.
             if part.is_hook_deferred:
                 continue
             self.emitted_tool_results.add(part.tool_call_id)
@@ -490,7 +490,7 @@ def on_hook(
         is_automatic = hook_part.metadata.get("isAutomatic")
         is_automatic = is_automatic if isinstance(is_automatic, bool) else None
         match hook_part.status:
-            case "deferred":
+            case "pending":
                 if tc_id in self.emitted_approval_requests:
                     return out
                 self.emitted_approval_requests.add(tc_id)
diff --git a/src/ai/telemetry/span.py b/src/ai/telemetry/span.py
index 0c7ccc22..45147b4d 100644
--- a/src/ai/telemetry/span.py
+++ b/src/ai/telemetry/span.py
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ class HookSpanData:
     label: str
     hook_type: str
     metadata: dict[str, Any]
-    status: Literal["deferred", "resolved", "cancelled"] = "deferred"
+    status: Literal["pending", "resolved", "cancelled"] = "pending"
 
     span_name: ClassVar[str] = "hook"
 
diff --git a/src/ai/types/events.py b/src/ai/types/events.py
index 9ad607f1..ea05dd18 100644
--- a/src/ai/types/events.py
+++ b/src/ai/types/events.py
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ class RunBlocked(pydantic.BaseModel):
 
     There is no mirror "unblocked" event because it would be redundant:
     a blocked run can only resume via a hook resolution (or
-    cancellation), so the next ``HookEvent`` with a non-``deferred``
+    cancellation), so the next ``HookEvent`` with a non-``pending``
     status *is* the unblock signal.  Note the converse does not hold —
     a ``ToolCallResult`` carrying an ``is_hook_deferred`` placeholder
     (serverless abort) arrives while the run stays blocked, and the run
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ class RunStateTracker:
 
     The fold reads three things:
 
-    * hook state from :class:`HookEvent` (``deferred`` adds, ``resolved``
+    * hook state from :class:`HookEvent` (``pending`` adds, ``resolved``
       / ``cancelled`` removes);
     * model-stream activity from :class:`StreamStart` / :class:`StreamEnd`;
     * in-flight tool calls from the assistant message on
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ def feed(self, event: AgentEvent) -> RunBlocked | None:
                     r.tool_call_id for r in event.results
                 )
             case HookEvent():
-                if event.hook.status == "deferred":
+                if event.hook.status == "pending":
                     self._deferred[event.hook.hook_id] = event.hook
                 else:
                     self._deferred.pop(event.hook.hook_id, None)
diff --git a/src/ai/types/messages.py b/src/ai/types/messages.py
index a0f548e0..0a848440 100644
--- a/src/ai/types/messages.py
+++ b/src/ai/types/messages.py
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ class HookPart[T](pydantic.BaseModel):
     id: str = pydantic.Field(default_factory=lambda: generate_id("part"))
     hook_id: str
     hook_type: str
-    status: Literal["deferred", "resolved", "cancelled"]
+    status: Literal["pending", "resolved", "cancelled"]
     metadata: dict[str, Any] = pydantic.Field(default_factory=dict)
     resolution: T | None = None
     tool_call_id: str | None = None
diff --git a/tests/agents/test_hooks.py b/tests/agents/test_hooks.py
index 9af4a007..726a2393 100644
--- a/tests/agents/test_hooks.py
+++ b/tests/agents/test_hooks.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ async def loop(
             if not isinstance(event, agent_events_.HookEvent):
                 continue
             # When we see the deferred hook, resolve it.
-            if event.hook.status == "deferred":
+            if event.hook.status == "pending":
                 ai.resolve_hook(
                     "confirm_1", {"approved": True, "reason": "looks good"}
                 )
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ async def loop(
         async for event in stream:
             if not isinstance(event, agent_events_.HookEvent):
                 continue
-            if event.hook.status == "deferred":
+            if event.hook.status == "pending":
                 await ai.cancel_hook("cancel_me", reason="denied")
 
     assert was_cancelled
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ async def loop(
             if not isinstance(event, agent_events_.HookEvent):
                 continue
             hooks.append(event.hook)
-            if event.hook.status == "deferred":
+            if event.hook.status == "pending":
                 ai.resolve_hook("emit_test", {"approved": False})
 
     resolved = [h for h in hooks if h.status == "resolved"]
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ async def loop(
         async for event in stream:
             if isinstance(event, agent_events_.HookEvent):
                 hooks.append(event.hook)
-                if event.hook.status == "deferred":
+                if event.hook.status == "pending":
                     ai.defer_hook(event.hook)
 
     assert len(hooks) >= 1
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ async def test_live_hook_span(recorder: Recorder) -> None:
         async for event in stream:
             if (
                 isinstance(event, agent_events_.HookEvent)
-                and event.hook.status == "deferred"
+                and event.hook.status == "pending"
             ):
                 ai.resolve_hook(my_agent.label, {"approved": True})
 
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ async def loop(
         async for event in stream:
             if (
                 isinstance(event, agent_events_.HookEvent)
-                and event.hook.status == "deferred"
+                and event.hook.status == "pending"
             ):
                 await ai.cancel_hook(my_agent.label, reason="denied")
 
diff --git a/tests/agents/test_run_blocked.py b/tests/agents/test_run_blocked.py
index 2377ffdd..b1e9c159 100644
--- a/tests/agents/test_run_blocked.py
+++ b/tests/agents/test_run_blocked.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 awaiting a hook.  ``RunStateTracker`` folds the event stream and a
 ``RunBlocked`` event is emitted when the run blocks; there is no
 mirror event — a blocked run can only resume via a hook resolution,
-so the non-``deferred`` ``HookEvent`` is the unblock signal.
+so the non-``pending`` ``HookEvent`` is the unblock signal.
 ``AgentStream`` folds both into its ``blocked`` / ``deferred_hooks``
 properties.
 """
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ def index(pred: Any) -> int:
 
     deferred_idx = index(
         lambda e: isinstance(e, events_.HookEvent)
-        and e.hook.status == "deferred"
+        and e.hook.status == "pending"
     )
     resolved_idx = index(
         lambda e: isinstance(e, events_.HookEvent)
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ async def slow(x: int) -> str:
             delivered.append(event)
             if (
                 isinstance(event, events_.HookEvent)
-                and event.hook.status == "deferred"
+                and event.hook.status == "pending"
             ):
                 assert not stream.blocked
                 release.set()
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ async def test_abort_leaves_blocked() -> None:
                 blocked_events.append(event)
             if (
                 isinstance(event, events_.HookEvent)
-                and event.hook.status == "deferred"
+                and event.hook.status == "pending"
             ):
                 ai.defer_hook(event.hook)
 
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ async def self_gated(x: int) -> str:
             assert not isinstance(event, events_.RunBlocked)
             if (
                 isinstance(event, events_.HookEvent)
-                and event.hook.status == "deferred"
+                and event.hook.status == "pending"
             ):
                 assert event.hook.tool_call_id is None
                 ai.resolve_hook("self_gate", {"approved": True})
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ def test_tracker_fold_sequence() -> None:
     hook: messages_.HookPart[Any] = messages_.HookPart(
         hook_id="h1",
         hook_type="ToolApproval",
-        status="deferred",
+        status="pending",
         tool_call_id="tc-1",
     )
 
diff --git a/tests/agents/test_validation_error_approval.py b/tests/agents/test_validation_error_approval.py
index ea05e48b..c5051d63 100644
--- a/tests/agents/test_validation_error_approval.py
+++ b/tests/agents/test_validation_error_approval.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ async def test_invalid_args_with_approval_returns_error_result() -> None:
         async for event in stream:
             if (
                 isinstance(event, events_.HookEvent)
-                and event.hook.status == "deferred"
+                and event.hook.status == "pending"
             ):
                 hook_events.append(event)
                 ai.resolve_hook(
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ async def test_invalid_args_skips_approval_hook() -> None:
         async for event in stream:
             if (
                 isinstance(event, events_.HookEvent)
-                and event.hook.status == "deferred"
+                and event.hook.status == "pending"
             ):
                 hook_fired = True
                 ai.resolve_hook(
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ async def test_completely_invalid_json_with_approval() -> None:
         async for event in stream:
             if (
                 isinstance(event, events_.HookEvent)
-                and event.hook.status == "deferred"
+                and event.hook.status == "pending"
             ):
                 ai.resolve_hook(
                     event.hook.hook_id,
diff --git a/tests/agents/ui/ai_sdk/test_approvals.py b/tests/agents/ui/ai_sdk/test_approvals.py
index 5c1761dc..ec3d00f4 100644
--- a/tests/agents/ui/ai_sdk/test_approvals.py
+++ b/tests/agents/ui/ai_sdk/test_approvals.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ def test_tool_call_id_for_returns_field() -> None:
     hook: messages_.HookPart[Any] = messages_.HookPart(
         hook_id="my_custom_gate",
         hook_type="ToolApproval",
-        status="deferred",
+        status="pending",
         tool_call_id="tc_42",
     )
     assert approvals.tool_call_id_for(hook) == "tc_42"
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def test_tool_call_id_for_field_ignored_on_non_approval() -> None:
     hook: messages_.HookPart[Any] = messages_.HookPart(
         hook_id="confirm_something",
         hook_type="Confirmation",
-        status="deferred",
+        status="pending",
         tool_call_id="tc_42",
     )
     assert approvals.tool_call_id_for(hook) is None
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ def test_tool_call_id_for_rejects_non_approval_type() -> None:
     hook: messages_.HookPart[Any] = messages_.HookPart(
         hook_id="approve_tc_42",
         hook_type="SomethingElse",
-        status="deferred",
+        status="pending",
         tool_call_id="tc_42",
     )
     assert approvals.tool_call_id_for(hook) is None
diff --git a/tests/agents/ui/ai_sdk/test_inbound_messages.py b/tests/agents/ui/ai_sdk/test_inbound_messages.py
index b657a9ee..0e8c1df4 100644
--- a/tests/agents/ui/ai_sdk/test_inbound_messages.py
+++ b/tests/agents/ui/ai_sdk/test_inbound_messages.py
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ def test_to_messages_keeps_deferred_approval_tombstone() -> None:
     hook_part = messages[1].parts[0]
     assert isinstance(hook_part, messages_.HookPart)
     assert hook_part.hook_type == "ToolApproval"
-    assert hook_part.status == "deferred"
+    assert hook_part.status == "pending"
 
 
 def test_to_messages_drops_resolved_approval_tombstone() -> None:
diff --git a/tests/agents/ui/ai_sdk/test_outbound_messages.py b/tests/agents/ui/ai_sdk/test_outbound_messages.py
index 2617cac9..4529b077 100644
--- a/tests/agents/ui/ai_sdk/test_outbound_messages.py
+++ b/tests/agents/ui/ai_sdk/test_outbound_messages.py
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ def test_merge_approval_signals_deferred_then_resolved() -> None:
             messages_.HookPart(
                 hook_id="approve_tc1",
                 hook_type="ToolApproval",
-                status="deferred",
+                status="pending",
                 tool_call_id="tc1",
             )
         ],
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ def test_to_ui_messages_internal_role_merges_approval() -> None:
                 messages_.HookPart(
                     hook_id="approve_tc1",
                     hook_type="ToolApproval",
-                    status="deferred",
+                    status="pending",
                     tool_call_id="tc1",
                 )
             ],
@@ -630,7 +630,7 @@ def _parked_turn(*, hook_id: str, tool_call_id: str) -> list[messages_.Message]:
                     id="part-1",
                     hook_id=hook_id,
                     hook_type="ToolApproval",
-                    status="deferred",
+                    status="pending",
                     metadata={"tool": "bash", "kwargs": {"command": "ls"}},
                     tool_call_id=tool_call_id,
                 )
@@ -664,5 +664,5 @@ def test_deferred_approval_hook_roundtrips_tool_call_id() -> None:
             if isinstance(p, messages_.HookPart)
         ]
         assert hook.hook_id == hook_id
-        assert hook.status == "deferred"
+        assert hook.status == "pending"
         assert hook.tool_call_id == "tc-1"
diff --git a/tests/agents/ui/ai_sdk/test_outbound_stream.py b/tests/agents/ui/ai_sdk/test_outbound_stream.py
index 2d8c1c10..ea40d303 100644
--- a/tests/agents/ui/ai_sdk/test_outbound_stream.py
+++ b/tests/agents/ui/ai_sdk/test_outbound_stream.py
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ async def test_finish_metadata_tracks_tool_and_internal_messages() -> None:
         id="hook-1",
         hook_id="approve_tc1",
         hook_type="ToolApproval",
-        status="deferred",
+        status="pending",
     )
     internal = messages_.Message(
         id="internal-1",
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ async def test_tool_result_without_streaming_emits_input_start() -> None:
 
 
 async def test_approval_request_hook_emits_approval_event() -> None:
-    """HookEvent with deferred status emits a UIToolApprovalRequestEvent."""
+    """HookEvent with pending status emits a UIToolApprovalRequestEvent."""
     out = await _collect(
         [
             # Streaming tool events first
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ async def test_approval_request_hook_emits_approval_event() -> None:
                         messages_.HookPart(
                             hook_id="approve_tc1",
                             hook_type="ToolApproval",
-                            status="deferred",
+                            status="pending",
                             tool_call_id="tc1",
                         )
                     ],
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ async def test_approval_request_hook_emits_approval_event() -> None:
                 hook=messages_.HookPart(
                     hook_id="approve_tc1",
                     hook_type="ToolApproval",
-                    status="deferred",
+                    status="pending",
                     tool_call_id="tc1",
                 ),
             ),
diff --git a/tests/test_middleware.py b/tests/test_middleware.py
index 49931e1a..6480d9ca 100644
--- a/tests/test_middleware.py
+++ b/tests/test_middleware.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ async def loop(
         async for event in stream:
             if not isinstance(event, agent_events_.HookEvent):
                 continue
-            if event.hook.status == "deferred":
+            if event.hook.status == "pending":
                 ai.resolve_hook("test_hook", {"approved": True, "reason": "ok"})
 
     assert len(hook_calls) == 1