ablösen
remove · replace
Etwas von einer Stelle wegmachen oder etwas durch etwas Neues ersetzen.
The German word "ablösen" is a verb that means "to detach," "to replace," or "to relieve." It is composed of the prefix "ab," which means "off" or "away," and the verb "lösen," which means "to solve" or "to loosen." "Ablösen" can refer to removing something from its place, such as detaching a sticker from a surface, or replacing someone in a role, such as one employee relieving another.
Similar words in German include "ersetzen" (to replace), "abnehmen" (to take off), and "trennen" (to separate). The key difference is that "ablösen" often implies both a detachment and a transition in responsibility or place, while the other terms may focus more on substitution or removal without the additional context of a handover.
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Examples
Sie muss die alte Tapete ablösen.verb
She has to remove the old wallpaper.
Am Ende des Tages soll jemand das alte System ablösen.verb
At the end of the day, someone is supposed to replace the old system.
Wir müssen jemanden finden, der ihn morgen ablösen kann.verb
We need to find someone who can replace him tomorrow.
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