förestå

Definition & meaning

The verb förestå has two distinct meanings in Swedish:

1. To be in charge of / To manage: To supervise, lead, or be responsible for an office, an organization, or a specific task.
2. To be imminent / To be forthcoming: To describe an event or a time period that is approaching and will happen soon.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar:

• Word class: Verb
• Infinitive: förestå
• Present tense: förestår
• Past tense: förestod
• Supine: förestått

Origin: The word is a compound of the prefix före- (meaning before, in front of) and the verb stå (to stand). Literally, it can mean "standing in front of something" (leading it) or "standing in front of [the present moment]" (meaning something is about to happen).

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms (Meaning 1: To manage):

• leda ↗
• ansvara för ↗
• förvalta ↗
• sköta ↗

Synonyms (Meaning 2: To be imminent):

• nalkas ↗
• vara förestående ↗
• vara nära ↗

Antonyms:

• avslutas ↗ (To be finished/concluded, relevant to the second meaning)