vertrieben

Definition & Meaning

The German word „vertrieben“ is the past participle of the verb „vertreiben“, which means to drive away, to expel, or to banish someone or something. It can refer to both literal and figurative actions.

1. Literal meaning:
   It describes the act of forcing someone or something to leave a place — for example, driving out animals, enemies, or people from their homes or land.
   Example: Die Bevölkerung wurde durch den Krieg vertrieben. – The population was expelled because of the war.

2. Figurative meaning:
   It can also mean to dispel or to get rid of something abstract, such as feelings, boredom, or time.
   Example: Er vertrieb seine Langeweile mit Lesen. – He passed the time reading.

In a commercial context, „vertreiben“ can also mean to distribute or to sell products.
Example: Die Firma vertreibt ihre Produkte weltweit. – The company distributes its products worldwide.

Grammar & Word Origin

• Infinitive: vertreiben
• Part of speech: verb (past participle: vertrieben)
• Auxiliary verb: haben (in the perfect tense: hat vertrieben)
• Separable prefix: ver- (non-separable; modifies the root meaning to indicate transformation or completion)
• Root verb: treiben = to drive, to propel

Etymology:
From Middle High German vertriben, Old High German fartreibān, derived from treiben (to drive) plus the prefix ver-, which often indicates an intensification or change of state.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms:

• ↗ – to banish
• ↗ – to expel, deport
• ↗ – to chase away
• ↗ – to market, to sell (in the commercial sense)

Antonyms:

• ↗ – to invite
• ↗ – to keep
• ↗ – to attract