Vorstoßen

Vorstoßen is a German verb with the core meaning to push forward or to advance, either literally or figuratively. The prefix vor- indicates forward, combined with stoßen (to push). In everyday use it covers physical movement as well as the figurative sense of making progress, gaining ground, or pushing into a space or conversation.

Grammar and conjugation: vorstoßen is a separable-prefix verb. In the present tense you typically hear stößt vor for du/er/sie forms and stieß vor in the simple past. The participle form is vorgestoßen. With movement, the auxiliary in the perfect can be sein: Ich bin vorgestoßen. For example: Er stößt vor, um den Weg freizumachen. Die Truppen stoßen weiter vor. Die Verhandlungen stoßen voran. In der Schlange kann man sich vorstoßen, um voranzukommen, oft mit der sense of cutting in line or elbowing through.

Usage notes: vorstoßen is used for both physical advance (durch eine Menge, in den Raum) and progress in a process (eine Studie stößt vor, die Verhandlungen stoßen voran). It is synonymous with vordringen oder vorschreiten in many contexts, though each term has its own nuance. The expression is common in journalism and reporting to describe military, political, or scientific progress as well as everyday situations involving space or priority.

See also: vordringen, vordrängen, vorankommen.