German Conversation · Level 190
30 words
German word
peilen
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈpaɪ̯lən/
Meaning
- verbgauge
Example
Ich peile die Entfernung.
I gauge the distance.
More examples
Sie versucht, die Lage vor dem Meeting zu peilen.
She is trying to gauge the situation before the meeting.
Core concept
A glance takes a quick bearing on a distance, direction, or situation and produces a usable estimate.
Common phrases
die Lage peilen
gauge the situation
die Stimmung im Team peilen
gauge the mood in the team
seinen Plan peilen
gauge his plan
Similar words
verstehen: To understand words or content clearly.
einschätzen: To judge a situation or a person's character in broad terms.
abschätzen: To estimate an amount, distance, or degree roughly.
erahnen: To intuit something without supporting evidence.
Definition in German
peilen bedeutet umgangssprachlich, etwas schnell zu erfassen, zu verstehen oder eine Vermutung zu haben.
Word origin
Peilen is a verb formed from Peil with -en; the noun names a bearing, while the verb developed meanings for determining a position, estimating something, and grasping it quickly.
Usage tips
- The separable verb anpeilen means to aim at or target something, so it is not interchangeable with the colloquial understanding sense of peilen.
Other meanings
- take a bearingverb
- understandverb
Opposites
- verkennenmisjudgeverb
Related words
- peilbargaugeableadjective
- anpeilenaim forverb