Meegedragen

Meegedragen is a Dutch verb in the past participle form of meegedragen, meaning to bear or carry something along with others, or to have a burden or cost shared among participants. It can denote a literal act of carrying as well as a figurative sharing of responsibility, risk, or expense. In financial and administrative contexts, it is commonly used to indicate that costs, burdens, or obligations are shared by multiple parties. For example, "De kosten worden door alle partijen meegedragen" means that the costs are borne by all parties involved. In a more concrete sense, one might say "Het team heeft de last meegedragen," indicating that the team carried or shouldered the burden.

Meegedragen also functions as an adjective, describing something that is carried along or borne together. Phrases such as "een meegedragen last" or "meegedragen lasten" are used in formal or written Dutch to emphasize shared responsibility or burden. This usage highlights how the past participle can describe a state resulting from collective action.

Etymology and grammar: the word is formed from the prefix mee- (together, along) and dragen (to carry). It is a separable compound verb in its finite forms, so in main clauses the prefix can be separated (De kosten worden meegedragen), while in subordinate clauses or with the participle, it remains attached (de meegedragen lasten).

Related terms include dragen, meedragen as a variant spelling in older texts, and phrases like kosten, lasten, and verantwoordelijkheid dragen or delen.