German word

entgehen

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛntˈgeːən/

Meaning

  • verbmiss

Example

Das Detail ist mir entgangen.

I missed the detail.

Illustration for entgehen (miss)

More examples

Mir ist der Fehler im Text völlig entgangen.

I completely missed the mistake in the text.

Core concept

A detail slips past someone's attention, while a person or danger slips away beyond reach.

Common phrases

  • etwas entgeht jemandem

    Something escapes someone

Similar words

übersehen: Overlook something visible without realizing it is there.
bemerken: Become aware of something through the senses.
verpassen: Fail to attend an event or seize an opportunity because of lateness.

Definition in German

jemandem nicht auffallen; etwas übersehen oder nicht bemerken

Word origin

Entgehen combines the inseparable prefix ent- meaning 'away' with gehen meaning 'go', developing from going away or escaping to escaping notice.

Usage tips

  • The person who misses something is in the dative, as in 'Das Detail ist mir entgangen'; the form is 'entgangen', not 'geentgangen'.

Other meanings

  • avoidverb
  • escapeverb

Opposites

Related words

  • entgangenmissedadjective

Word lists with this word