German word

abhaken

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈapˌhaːkən/

Meaning

  • verbcheck off

Example

Ich hake die Liste ab.

I am checking off the list.

Illustration for abhaken (check off)

More examples

Im Meeting möchte sie die offenen Punkte abhaken.

In the meeting, she wants to check off the outstanding items.

Core concept

A tick is placed beside a list item, marking it as finished and removing it from the open tasks.

Common phrases

  • ein Feld abhaken

    check off a field

  • eine Aufgabe abhaken

    check off a task

  • ein Thema abhaken

    check off a topic

Similar words

ankreuzen: Place a check or cross beside a matching option.
markieren: Make text or a passage stand out with a mark or color.
durchstreichen: Draw a line through text or list entries to remove them.
erledigen: Carry out and finish a requested task or piece of work.

Definition in German

ein Element einer Liste durch Anbringen eines Häkchens als erledigt kennzeichnen

Word origin

Abhaken combines the separable prefix "ab-" with "haken", which comes from "Haken" meaning "hook"; it developed from marking something off to treating it as complete.

Usage tips

  • In a finite clause, the prefix separates: "Ich hake die Liste ab", while the infinitive remains "abhaken".

Opposites

  • offenlassenleave openverb
  • aufschiebenpostponeverb

Related words

  • Abhakenchecking offnoun
  • abgehaktchecked offadjective

Word lists with this word