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entfernen
/ɛntˈfɛʁnən/
remove
Bitte entfernen Sie den alten Aufkleber von der Windschutzscheibe.
Please remove the old sticker from the windshield.
neutral
To take something away from a place or to eliminate it.
Der Arzt entfernte den Verband nach zwei Wochen.
The doctor removed the bandage after two weeks.
Ich möchte diesen Eintrag aus meiner Liste entfernen.
I want to remove this entry from my list.
Commonly used in both everyday and technical contexts (e.g., medicine, computing).
neutral
To move away from someone or something, often implying distance.
Das Dorf entfernt sich immer mehr von der Stadt.
The village is moving further and further away from the city.
Less common than the first sense but still standard.
Collocations
sich entfernen vonto distance oneself frometwas aus etwas entfernento remove something from somethingsich von etwas entfernento move away from something
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Common Mistakes
Avoid confusing 'entfernen' with 'wegwerfen' (to throw away). 'Entfernen' implies taking away without necessarily discarding, while 'wegwerfen' implies disposal.
Gold Rule
Preposition Usage
When removing something from a place, use 'aus' (e.g., 'etwas aus dem Ordner entfernen'). When moving away from a location, use 'von' (e.g., 'sich von der Stadt entfernen').
Word Origin
From Middle High German *entfernen*, from Old High German *intferran* (to remove), from Proto-Germanic *fra-* (away) + *ferran* (to go). Related to English 'far'.
Usage Notes
Used transitively (e.g., 'etwas entfernen') or reflexively (e.g., 'sich entfernen'). In computing, often paired with 'Daten', 'Datei', or 'Programm'.
Word Breakdown
ent-
prefix indicating separation or removal
prefixfern
far, distant
root-en
verb suffix
suffixDeutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch