German word

ausbauen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈaʊ̯sˌbaʊ̯ən/

Meaning

  • verbexpand

Example

Wir bauen die Fabrik dieses Jahr aus.

We are expanding the factory this year.

Illustration for ausbauen (expand)

More examples

Die Stadt baut die Radwege dieses Jahr aus.

The city is expanding the bike paths this year.

Core concept

A building or system gains useful space or equipment, while an installed component can be taken out of its surrounding structure.

Common phrases

  • die Infrastruktur ausbauen

    expand the infrastructure

  • die Beziehungen ausbauen

    expand relationships

Similar words

erweitern: Increase the range, extent, or scale of something.
vergrößern: Increase the physical size of an object or space.
umbauen: Remodel a building by altering its structure or floor plan.
abbauen: Take a component or device out of the structure around it.

Definition in German

etwas im Umfang oder in der Ausstattung vergrößern oder ergänzen; auch ein Bauteil herausnehmen oder einen Raum fertigstellen

Word origin

The verb joins aus- ('out') and bauen ('build'), and its removal sense refers to building a component out of the larger structure in which it is installed.

Usage tips

  • For the removal sense, German commonly uses 'etwas aus etwas ausbauen', as in 'den Motor aus dem Auto ausbauen', with the source taking aus plus the dative.

Other meanings

  • renovateverb
  • removeverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Ausbauexpansionnoun
  • ausgebautexpandedadjective
  • ausbaufähigexpandableadjective

Word lists with this word