verb

fertigstellen

complete · finish

Etwas bis zum Ende bearbeiten, sodass es komplett und bereit ist.

Definition & meaning

The word fertigstellen means to complete, finish, or finalize something. It is most commonly used when referring to a project, a piece of work, a building, or a product that is being brought to its final state. It implies that all necessary steps have been taken and the object is now ready for its intended use or for delivery.

While it is similar to simply "finishing," fertigstellen often carries a slightly more formal or technical tone, frequently appearing in contexts like construction, publishing, or business administration.

Grammar & Word origin

fertigstellen is a separable verb (trennbares Verb). This means that in a standard main clause, the prefix "fertig" moves to the end of the sentence.

Example: Ich stelle den Bericht bis morgen fertig. (I will finish the report by tomorrow.)

The word is composed of two parts:

fertig : An adjective meaning "ready" or "finished."
stellen : A verb meaning "to put," "to place," or "to set."

Literally, the word translates to "to set to a finished state."

In terms of conjugation, it is a weak verb:

Präsens: er/sie/es stellt fertig
Präteritum: er/sie/es stellte fertig
Perfekt: hat fertiggestellt

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

abschließen : To conclude or wrap up a process.
beenden : To end or stop an activity.
vollenden : To complete something perfectly or to bring it to its ultimate conclusion.
komplettieren : To make something complete by adding what is missing.