durchdenken

Durchdenken is a German verb meaning to think through something, to consider it carefully and in detail, often with the aim of reaching a well-founded conclusion or plan. It implies thorough analysis and deliberate evaluation rather than a quick or casual thought.

Grammatically, durchdenken is a separable-prefix verb. In present tense you commonly say ich denke es durch, du denkst es durch, er denkt es durch. The perfect tense uses haben: ich habe es durchgedacht. The past participle can also function as an adjective in compounds, as in ein durchdachter Plan (a well-thought-out plan). The imperative forms are denk es durch! or denkt es durch!

Etymology and relation to other terms: the prefix durch- adds the sense of completeness or thoroughness to denken (to think). It is related to but distinct from überdenken (to rethink, reconsider) and nachdenken (to reflect or ponder). While nachdenken emphasizes contemplation and overrunning time, durchdenken stresses working something through to a conclusion or decision.

Usage and nuance: durchdenken is commonly used with concrete objects or problems, e.g., Wir müssen das Problem gründlich durchdenken. It is often paired with intensifiers like gründlich, sorgfältig or systematisch to emphasize thoroughness. In everyday language it can describe both individual mental work and collaborative analysis in professional contexts.

Synonyms and related terms: gründlich durchdenken, sorgfältig überlegen, analysieren, prüfen. A related adjective is durchdacht, meaning well-thought-out. See also think-related verbs like nachdenken and überdenken for nuanced differences in reflection and revision.