aussteht

Aussteht is a form of the German verb ausstehen, which is most commonly used in the sense of something remaining unresolved or pending. It is a separable-prefix verb; in present tense, the prefix aus is separated from stehen, so the verb appears as steht … aus (for example: Die Prüfung steht noch aus). The expression denotes that a matter or obligation has not yet been completed or decided.

Common uses and meanings

- Pending or outstanding: This is by far the most frequent sense. Nouns that describe tasks, payments, decisions, or questions can be described as ausstehend with equivalents like stehen aus. Examples include Die Prüfung steht noch aus, Die Abrechnung steht aus, or Es stehen noch Fragen aus. Here, stand and prefix together convey that something remains to be done or clarified.

- Adjective form: The related adjective ausstehend is widely used to describe things that are not yet completed, such as ausstehende Aufgaben or ausstehende Zahlungen. This adjective is common in formal writing, reporting, and administrative language.

Grammar and usage notes

- As a separable verb, ausstehen behaves like other prefix verbs in German. In simple present statements, the finite form accompanies the separated prefix, as in Es steht noch aus. In subordinate clauses with modal verbs or past tenses, the construction follows the standard rules for separable-prefix verbs.

- The concept is closely related to the word offen, which also conveys something remaining to be resolved, but ausstehen is more formal and administrative in tone.

Related terms

- ausstehend (adjective): pending, outstanding.

- offen (open, not yet resolved) as a broader synonym in some contexts, though with a less formal nuance.

Usage examples

- Die Prüfung steht noch aus.

- Es stehen viele Fragen aus.

- Die Rechnung ist ausstehend, der Zahlungstermin ist bald.