verb

loswerden

get rid of

Wenn man etwas weggibt oder wegschmeißt, weil man es nicht mehr haben möchte oder es einen stört.

Definition & meaning

The verb loswerden is a separable German verb that generally means to get rid of something or someone. It is used in several contexts:

To dispose of or free oneself from something unpleasant or unwanted (e.g., getting rid of old junk, a bad habit, or a fever).
To sell something or find a buyer for items that are difficult to move.
To manage to tell someone something you have been wanting to say (e.g., "Ich muss das einfach mal loswerden" – "I just need to get this off my chest").

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar:

loswerden is a separable verb (trennbare Verben). When conjugated, the prefix "los-" moves to the end of the sentence in main clauses (e.g., "Ich werde den alten Schrank endlich los").
It is a strong verb. The principal parts are: loswerden (infinitive) – wurde los (simple past) – ist losgeworden (perfect).
It requires the accusative case for the object being removed.

Word origin: The word is a combination of the adjective los (free, loose, rid of) and the verb werden (to become). It literally translates to "becoming free of" something.