German word

bedingen

Pronunciation

IPA/bəˈdɪŋən/

Meaning

  • verbentail

Example

Die neue Regelung bedingt größere Änderungen.

The new regulation entails major changes.

Illustration for bedingen (entail)

More examples

Mangelnde Kommunikation bedingen Missverständnisse im Team.

Lack of communication causes misunderstandings within the team.

Core concept

A condition acts like a switch: its presence brings a consequence or makes an action necessary.

Common phrases

  • eine Entscheidung bedingen Konsequenzen

    a decision entails consequences

  • mangelnde Kommunikation bedingen Missverständnisse

    lack of communication causes misunderstandings

Similar words

verursachen: To cause an event or problem to happen.
mit sich bringen: To involve a further consequence or effect.
bewirken: To bring about a particular change or effect.
führen zu: To result in a particular state or outcome.

Definition in German

etwas verursachen oder an eine Bedingung knüpfen

Word origin

The verb developed from Middle High German bedingen, built with be- and dingen, "to stipulate"; the older sense of a stipulation explains its modern causal and conditional uses.

Usage tips

  • In formal German, bedingen often means "cause" or "entail," while the adjective bedingt means "conditional" or "limited by circumstances."

Other meanings

  • causeverb
  • requireverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word