verpassen
/fɛɐ̯ˈpasn̩/verb★Intermediate
general
To miss an opportunity, event, or scheduled appointment.
Wenn du den Bus verpasst, musst du auf den nächsten warten.
If you miss the bus, you'll have to wait for the next one.
Er hat die Chance verpasst, den Job zu bekommen.
He missed the opportunity to get the job.
💡
Can also be used reflexively as 'sich verpassen' to mean 'to miss each other.'
general
To fail to notice or perceive something.
Ich habe den Witz nicht verstanden, weil ich ihn verpasst habe.
I didn't get the joke because I missed it.
Collocations
den Zug verpassento miss the traindie Chance verpassento miss the opportunitysich verpassento miss each other
Synonyms
Antonyms
💡Pro Tip
Common Usage
Use 'verpassen' when referring to missing something scheduled or planned.
📖Word Origin
From Middle High German 'verpassen', from 'ver-' (intensive prefix) + 'passen' (to fit).
📝Usage Notes
Often used with 'den' or 'die' to specify what is being missed. Can also be used in a reflexive form.
Word Breakdown
ver-
intensive prefix
prefixpassen
to fit
rootDeutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch