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verb

wegfallen

eliminate

Etwas, das es bisher gab oder vorgesehen war, gibt es plötzlich nicht mehr oder es ist nicht mehr nötig.

Definition & meaning

The verb wegfallen primarily means to be omitted, to cease to exist, or to be cancelled. It describes a situation where something that was previously present, expected, or planned is no longer there or no longer applies.

Common contexts for this word include:

  1. Financial or Administrative: When costs, fees, or taxes are abolished or no longer required. For example, if a discount is no longer offered, it "falls away."
  2. Scheduling: When an event, a lesson, or a task is cancelled. If a meeting is removed from the calendar, it "falls away."
  3. Physical/Structural: When a part of something is removed or disappears, such as a paragraph in a text or a requirement in a process.

Grammar & Word origin

wegfallen is a separable verb consisting of the prefix weg- (away) and the base verb fallen (to fall).

  • Present tense: ich falle weg, du fällst weg, er/sie/es fällt weg.
  • Past tense (Präteritum): fiel weg.
  • Perfect tense (Perfekt): ist weggefallen.

As an intransitive verb, it always uses the auxiliary verb sein to form the perfect tense because it indicates a change of state.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

  • entfallen : Often used when something is omitted or when someone forgets something.
  • ausfallen : Typically used for scheduled events like classes or concerts that are cancelled.
  • wegbleiben : To stay away or remain absent.
  • schwinden : To dwindle or disappear, though this implies a more gradual process.
  • gestrichen werden : To be crossed out or deleted from a list or plan.

Antonyms

  • bestehen bleiben : To remain in existence or stay as it is.
  • dazu kommen : To be added or to come in addition to something.
  • stattfinden : To take place (used for events).
  • entstehen : To arise, to be created, or to come into being.

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Examples

Die Gebühren für das Parken fallen ab sofort weg.verb

The parking fees are now being eliminated.

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