Ablehnen

Ablehnen is a German verb meaning to reject, decline, or refuse something such as an offer, request, or proposal. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts and can refer to a wide range of refusals, from job applications to invitations.

Grammatical notes: ablehnen is a separable-prefix verb. In the present tense, the prefix ab- is separated from the stem: Ich lehne das Angebot ab. Er lehnt den Antrag ab. In perfect tense, the past participle is abgelehnt and the auxiliary haben is used: Ich habe das Angebot abgelehnt. The prefix remains attached to the participle part in the compound form, while the verb’s main part sits with the subject and auxiliary.

Usage and expressions: ablehnen governs direct objects that are being refused. Common collocations include eine Bitte ablehnen (to refuse a request), eine Einladung ablehnen (to decline an invitation), and eine Bewerbung ablehnen (to reject an application). The term can carry a neutral to formal tone depending on context.

Related forms and antonyms: the noun Ablehnung denotes the act of rejection or refusal, as in eine Ablehnung des Antrags. An adjective form is ablehnend, meaning rejecting or disapproving, e.g., eine ablehnende Haltung. Antonyms include akzeptieren or annehmen (to accept).

Etymology: ablehnen is formed from ab- (away) and lehnen (to lean, to reject in older usage). The combination conveys turning something away or refusing it. The word has been part of standard German since the early modern period and remains common in legal, administrative, and everyday language.