German Conversation · Level 159
29 words
German word
versäumen
Pronunciation
IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈzɔɪ̯mən/
Meaning
- verbmiss
Example
Ich habe das Spiel versäumt.
I missed the game.
More examples
Er hat aus Nachlässigkeit den wichtigen Anruf versäumt.
He missed the important call through carelessness.
Core concept
A duty or appointment slips past while the needed action is left undone, and an important chance is lost.
Common phrases
etwas Wichtiges versäumen
miss something important
die Diskussion versäumen
be absent from the discussion
die Chance versäumen
miss the chance
Similar words
verpassen: Arrive too late for an event, vehicle, or chance and lose it.
übersehen: Overlook something because it is not noticed or recognized.
vergessen: Not remember something, causing an action or commitment to be left undone.
unterlassen: Leave a necessary action undone by choosing not to carry it out.
Definition in German
eine Handlung, Pflicht oder Verabredung unterlassen oder zu spät ausführen, sodass man etwas Wichtiges verliert
Word origin
The verb comes from Middle High German versûmen, formed with ver- from säumen 'to delay', and it developed the sense of missing something through delay or neglect.
Usage tips
- Versäumen takes an accusative object, as in eine Frist versäumen, and its perfect uses haben: hat die Frist versäumt.