German word

Belieben

Pronunciation

IPA/bəˈliːbən/

Meaning

  • neuter noundiscretion

Example

Du kannst nach deinem Belieben wählen.

You can choose as you wish.

Illustration for Belieben (discretion)

More examples

Die Gäste richteten den Raum nach Belieben ein.

The guests arranged the room as they pleased.

Core concept

A person chooses freely among several options, guided by personal wishes rather than an outside rule.

Common phrases

  • nach Belieben

    as one wishes

  • nach eigenem Belieben

    at one's own discretion

Similar words

Vorliebe: A particular liking for one option over others.
Wunsch: A desire for something to happen or be done.
Geschmack: A sense of what looks, tastes, or feels appealing.
Ermessen: Room to make a decision based on judgment and circumstances.

Definition in German

Belieben bedeutet die freie Entscheidung oder persönliche Vorliebe, etwas nach eigenem Wunsch zu tun.

Word origin

Belieben is the substantivized infinitive of belieben, an older Germanic verb related to bleiben that referred to what pleased someone and came to express personal liking or choice.

Usage tips

  • Belieben is neuter, and the common fixed phrase is nach Belieben, meaning that a choice or action is left to personal discretion.

Other meanings

  • preferencenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word