verb

stellen

place · put

Etwas an einen bestimmten Ort tun oder jemandem eine Frage geben.

The verb stellen is a highly versatile German verb. Its primary meanings include:

To place or put (in an upright position): Unlike legen (to lay flat), stellen refers to placing an object so that it stands on its base or feet (e.g., placing a bottle on a table or a chair in a room).
To set or adjust: It is used when changing settings on a device, such as setting a clock (die Uhr stellen) or an alarm (den Wecker stellen).
To pose or ask: It is used in set phrases to describe the act of asking a question (eine Frage stellen) or making a request/application (einen Antrag stellen).
To confront or catch: In a reflexive or transitive sense, it can mean to corner someone, to bring someone to justice, or to face a difficult situation (sich der Verantwortung stellen - to face one's responsibilities).

Grammar: It is a weak (regular) verb. Its principal parts are: stellen (infinitive), stellte (past tense), gestellt (past participle). It requires the auxiliary verb haben for perfect tenses. It is often used with a directional preposition to indicate where something is being placed.
Origin: It stems from the Old High German stellen, meaning to place, put, or arrange. It is etymologically related to the word Stelle (place/position) and gestalten (to form/shape).