German word

absagen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈapˌzaːgn̩/

Meaning

  • verbcancel

Example

Ich sage das Treffen ab.

I'm canceling the meeting.

Illustration for absagen (cancel)

More examples

Wir müssen das Meeting absagen.

We have to cancel the meeting.

Core concept

A planned event is moved off the schedule when someone says that it will not happen.

Common phrases

  • eine Verabredung absagen

    cancel a date

  • einen Termin absagen

    cancel an appointment

  • ein Meeting absagen

    cancel a meeting

Similar words

verschieben: Announce that a scheduled event will take place at a different time.
stornieren: Cancel a booking or order through an official process.
ablehnen: Decline an offer or invitation rather than accept it.
ausfallen: Be canceled and therefore not take place, especially an event or lesson.

Definition in German

ein geplantes Treffen, einen Termin oder eine Einladung so zurücknehmen, dass sie nicht stattfindet; trennbares Verb

Word origin

The verb combines the separable prefix "ab-", meaning away or off, with "sagen", meaning to say.

Usage tips

  • As a separable verb, "absagen" places "ab" at the end of a main clause, as in "Ich sage das Treffen ab"; its past participle is "abgesagt".

Other meanings

  • declineverb
  • call offverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Absagerefusalnoun
  • abgesagtcanceledadjective

Word lists with this word