wenden

Definition & meaning

The verb wenden has a few distinct meanings depending on the context:

1. To turn or rotate: To physically change the orientation or direction of an object or one's own body (e.g., turning a pancake in a pan or turning oneself around).
2. To turn around/make a U-turn: In traffic, it refers to changing the direction of a vehicle by 180 degrees.
3. To apply or devote: In a more abstract sense, it means to invest effort, time, or resources toward a specific cause or purpose.
4. To turn to/address: Used reflexively (sich wenden an), it means to reach out to someone or an institution for help or information.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar:

• Verb type: Weak verb, but it features a strong variation in some dialects and older forms. Currently, it is conjugated as a weak verb: wendet, wendete, hat gewendet.
• Alternative conjugation: In literary or formal contexts, it is sometimes conjugated as a strong verb: wendet, wandte, hat gewandt.
• Transitivity: It can be used both transitively (e.g., etwas wenden) and intransitively (e.g., das Auto wendet), as well as reflexively (sich wenden).

Word origin:

• The word originates from the Old High German wentan, which means "to turn, to wind, or to cause to turn." It is related to the English word "wend" (as in "to wend one's way").

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

• drehen ↗: To rotate or spin.
• umkehren ↗: To turn back or reverse direction.
• richten ↗: To aim or direct (in the sense of sich wenden an).
• verwenden ↗: To use or apply (in the sense of applying resources).

Antonyms:

• beibehalten ↗: To maintain or keep (the current direction/state).
• geradeausfahren ↗: To drive straight ahead (as the opposite of making a turn).
• festhalten ↗: To hold onto or persist (as the opposite of turning away).