German word

vorausgehen

Pronunciation

IPA/foˈʁaʊ̯sˌgeːən/

Meaning

  • verbgo on ahead

Example

Wir gingen zur Kirche voraus.

We went on ahead to the church.

Illustration for vorausgehen (go on ahead)

More examples

Lange Überlegungen gingen der Entscheidung voraus.

Long deliberations preceded the decision.

Core concept

A leader reaches a place first while the rest of the group comes after, or stays ahead in progress.

Common phrases

  • einer Entscheidung vorausgehen

    precede a decision

  • einer Diskussion vorausgehen

    precede a discussion

Similar words

vorangehen: Take the lead along a route or in an activity.
führen: Direct the movement or actions of people or a group.
vorauslaufen: Go ahead on foot and stay in front of others.

Definition in German

vorausgehen heißt, zuerst vor anderen an einen Ort zu gehen oder in einer Sache jemandem voraus zu sein.

Word origin

The compound verb is formed from the directional element voraus and the inherited Germanic verb gehen.

Usage tips

  • For being ahead of someone in ability or progress, German commonly uses "jemandem voraus sein" with the person in the dative case.

Other meanings

  • precedeverb
  • lead the wayverb

Opposites

Related words

  • vorausgehendprecedingadjective
  • vorausgegangenpreviousadjective

Word lists with this word