ebnen
Translation
to level, to flatten, to smooth, to pave the way
Examples
Die Arbeiter ebnen die Straße.
The workers are leveling the road.
Seine Entdeckung ebnete den Weg für neue Forschungen.
His discovery paved the way for new research.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to level/flatten sth. The workers are leveling the road.
((den Weg)) ((für et4)) to pave the way for sth. His discovery paved the way for new research.
Similar Words
Synonyms: glätten (to smooth), einebnen (to level out); Antonyms: aufwerfen (to raise)
Etymology
Comes from the adjective 'eben', which means 'even' or 'flat'. The '-en' ending turns it into a verb.
Memory Tips
Picture making a surface 'even' (eben). 'Ebnen' is the action of making something flat, which can be literal (a road) or figurative (a path to success).