German Conversation · Level 117
45 words
German word
absehen
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈapˌzeːən/
Meaning
- verbforesee
Example
Es ist abzusehen, dass das Wetter schlechter wird.
It is foreseeable that the weather will get worse.
More examples
Den Ausgang des Spiels konnte man kaum absehen.
The outcome of the game could hardly be foreseen.
Core concept
A gaze that shifts from the present scene toward a likely result, a target, or something deliberately left aside.
Common phrases
es ist abzusehen
It is foreseeable
den Ausgang absehen
foresee the outcome
die Folgen absehen
foresee the consequences
Similar words
voraussehen: Foretelling how events or developments will unfold based on current information.
vermuten: Considering something true or likely despite lacking firm proof.
erwarten: Predicting that a specific event or result will happen.
ahnen: Having an intuitive sense that something is about to happen without clear proof.
Definition in German
Auf Basis der aktuellen Lage die Wahrscheinlichkeit eines künftigen Ereignisses einschätzen
Word origin
The separable verb combines German ab- with sehen; its literal senses involve looking away or off, while established constructions extend this to anticipating, targeting, or refraining.
Usage tips
- The preposition changes the meaning: von etwas absehen means refrain from it, auf etwas absehen means aim at it, and abzusehen sein introduces a foreseeable result.
Other meanings
- refrainverb
Opposites
- überraschensurpriseverb
Related words
- absehbarforeseeableadjective
- Absehenforesightnoun