German word

zurücklegen

Pronunciation

IPA/tsuˈʁʏkˌleːgn̩/

Meaning

  • verbput back

Example

Bitte leg die Tasse zurück.

Please put the cup back.

Illustration for zurücklegen (put back)

More examples

Sie legte das Buch ins Regal zurück.

She put the book back on the shelf.

Core concept

A hand moves an object back to the spot it occupied before.

Common phrases

  • das Buch ins Regal zurücklegen

    put the book back on the shelf

  • die Kleidung auf die Stange zurücklegen

    put the clothes back on the rail

Similar words

zurückgeben: Return an entrusted item to its owner.
zurückbringen: Take an object back to its original place or owner.
aufheben: Pick up an object that has fallen.
weglegen: Put an object in a nearby place for a while.

Definition in German

Etwas an seinen vorherigen Platz legen oder dorthin zurückbringen.

Word origin

Zurücklegen combines zurück, meaning back, with legen, meaning lay or put, and literally describes laying something back.

Usage tips

  • As a separable verb, zurücklegen places zurück at the end of a main clause, as in "Bitte leg die Tasse zurück."

Other meanings

  • put awayverb
  • save upverb
  • coververb

Opposites

Related words

  • das Zurücklegenputting backnoun
  • zurücklegbarable to be put backadjective

Word lists with this word