verlaufen
Translation
to proceed, to go, to get lost, to run
Examples
Die Besprechung verläuft gut.
The meeting is going well.
Er hat sich im Wald verlaufen.
He got lost in the forest.
Die Grenze verläuft zwischen den Ländern.
The border runs between the countries.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) proceeds/goes ((somehow)) sth. proceeds/goes somehow The project is proceeding as planned.
sich verlaufen to get lost She got lost in the unfamiliar neighborhood.
Similar Words
Synonyms: stattfinden, geschehen (to occur); sich verirren (to get lost). Antonyms: den Weg finden (to find the way)
Etymology
Composed of the prefix 'ver-' (implying something going away or wrong) and 'laufen' (to run). This combination creates the sense of 'running off course' (getting lost) or a process 'running along' (proceeding).
Memory Tips
Visualize a timeline 'running' forward for 'proceed', and a person 'running' the wrong way for 'get lost'.