German word

überlassen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˌyːbɐˈlasn̩/

Meaning

  • verbleave up to

Example

Ich überlasse dir die Entscheidung.

I leave the decision to you.

Illustration for überlassen (leave up to)

More examples

Er überließ seinem Freund sein Fahrrad.

He let his friend have his bicycle.

Core concept

An object or decision is placed in someone else's hands, with control passing along with it.

Common phrases

  • jemandem etwas überlassen

    let someone have something

  • jemandem die Entscheidung überlassen

    leave the decision up to someone

  • jemandem den Vortritt überlassen

    let someone go first

Similar words

geben: Hand something directly to another person or give them a right.
übergeben: Formally hand over a task or item for someone else to handle or keep.
anvertrauen: Entrust a secret or important matter to someone for safekeeping.
delegieren: Assign a task or authority to someone and entrust its execution to them.

Definition in German

Jemandem etwas überlassen bedeutet, einer Person Verantwortung oder die Verfügung über etwas zu übertragen, sodass sie darüber entscheiden oder es nutzen kann.

Word origin

The verb is a compound of über and lassen, whose basic sense is "let" or "leave," so it developed the sense of leaving something to someone else.

Usage tips

  • Überlassen is not separable: "Ich überlasse dir die Entscheidung" and "Ich habe dir die Entscheidung überlassen" are standard forms.

Other meanings

  • give upverb
  • let someone haveverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word