German word

entgegenkommen

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛntˈgeːgənˌkɔmən/

Meaning

  • verbmake concessions

Example

Die Firma kommt uns entgegen.

The company is making concessions to us.

Illustration for entgegenkommen (make concessions)

More examples

Der Verkäufer kam dem Kunden im Preis entgegen.

The seller made concessions to the customer on price.

Core concept

Two sides move toward a shared middle point, with one side giving up some ground.

Common phrases

  • dem Käufer im Preis entgegenkommen

    make concessions to the buyer on price

  • dem Kunden entgegenkommen

    accommodate the customer

  • einander entgegenkommen

    meet each other halfway

Similar words

einlenken: Relent in a dispute and accept the other side's view.
nachgeben: Give in to demands or pressure instead of maintaining a position.
zugestehen: Concede a specific demand or allow the other side part of what it seeks.

Definition in German

einer Person in einer Bitte oder Forderung teilweise nachgeben, um einen Kompromiss zu erreichen; steht mit Dativ.

Word origin

The separable compound entgegenkommen combines entgegen, meaning toward or to meet, with kommen, meaning come, and its figurative sense developed from this movement toward another person.

Usage tips

  • As a separable verb, entgegenkommen places the prefix at the end in a main clause, and the person accommodated appears in the dative case.

Other meanings

  • be considerateverb
  • accommodateverb
  • meet halfwayverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word