German word

abführen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈapˌfyːʁən/

Meaning

  • verblead away

Example

Die Polizei führte den Verdächtigen ab.

The police led the suspect away.

Illustration for abführen (lead away)

More examples

Die Demonstranten führte die Polizei nach dem Zwischenfall ab.

The police led the demonstrators away after the incident.

Core concept

One outlet directs different things away: a detained person, money to an authority, or material leaving the bowel.

Common phrases

  • in Handschellen abführen

    lead away in handcuffs

  • aus dem Gerichtssaal abführen

    lead away from the courtroom

Similar words

festnehmen: Stop and restrain someone so they cannot leave freely.
verhaften: Arrest someone through formal legal procedure and secure custody.
mitnehmen: Bring someone along while going to another place.
wegbringen: Take someone away from the present location to another place.

Definition in German

jemanden von einem Ort wegbringen oder in Gewahrsam nehmen; auch: Geld oder Abgaben an eine Stelle weitergeben; medizinisch den Darm zur Entleerung anregen

Word origin

German abführen is formed from ab- 'away' and führen 'lead', with its physical idea of moving something away developing into administrative and medical uses.

Usage tips

  • For people, abführen often implies official or coercive removal, whereas neutral mitnehmen or wegbringen simply means taking someone along or away.

Other meanings

  • remitverb
  • give a laxativeverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Abführungremovalnoun

Word lists with this word