abwarten
wait
Noch nichts tun und erst sehen, was später passiert.
The German word "abwarten" is a verb that means "to wait and see" or "to wait for". It is made up of the prefix "ab-" (often denotes direction or separation) and the verb "warten" which means "to wait". "Abwarten" implies a sense of patience and staying idle until an outcome or event occurs.
Similar words in German:
- "warten" (to wait): A general term for waiting.
- "zuwarten" (to wait for the right moment): Has a similar meaning but often indicates waiting for a specific opportune moment.
- "verzögern" (to delay or postpone): Refers more to actively causing a delay rather than passively waiting.
Differences:
- "Abwarten" emphasizes patience and passivity until a certain event happens.
- "Warten" is a broader term without the implication of awaiting a specific outcome.
- "Zuwarten" implies a strategic or calculated waiting for the right moment.
- "Verzögern" suggests active involvement in causing the delay, rather than merely experiencing it.
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Examples
Wir müssen noch abwarten.verb
We still have to wait.
Vielleicht sollten die Gäste abwarten, bis das Essen fertig ist.verb
Maybe the guests should wait until the food is ready.
Man kann einfach abwarten und schauen, was passiert.verb
One can simply wait and see what happens.
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