betreiben

Betreiben is a German verb meaning to operate, to run, or to conduct something. It is used transitively and typically takes a direct object. Common contexts include economic, technical, or organizational settings, such as a company, a facility, a service, an activity, or a system.

Typical objects and collocations include: einen Betrieb betreiben, eine Anlage betreiben, eine Website betreiben, eine Sportart betreiben, eine Forschung betreiben, Glücksspiel betreiben. The phrase often conveys the practical management and ongoing operation of the thing in question.

Etymology and grammar: betreiben comes from the verb treiben with the prefix be-, forming a transitive verb. Conjugation in the present tense is ich betreibe, du betreibst, er betreibt, wir betreiben, ihr betreibt, sie betreiben. The simple past is betrieb, betriebenen forms, and the past participle used with haben is betrieben. The passive construction is es wird betrieben.

Nouns related to betreiben include das Betreiben (the act of operating) and der Betrieb (the operation or business itself). Das Betreiben emphasizes the activity of operating, while der Betrieb refers more to the organization, facility, or enterprise.

Usage notes: betreiben highlights the practical execution and ongoing management of an operation, rather than high-level leadership. It is often preferred over synonyms like führen or leiten when the focus is on the technical or everyday functioning of a system or business.