einfließen

Einfließen is a German verb with the sense of flowing into something or of being incorporated, taken into account, or contributing to a result. In literal usage it describes the physical flow of a substance into a container, body of water, or system. In figurative contexts it denotes that information, data, experiences, or influences contribute to a process, assessment, or decision.

The verb is separable-prefix: in the present tense it is used as die Daten fließen in die Modellierung ein. The preposition in governs the direction of flow and is used with the accusative: in die Modellierung. The past participle is eingeflossen, and with a perfect tense the auxiliary verb is typically sein: Die Ergebnisse sind in die Berechnung eingeflossen.

Common usages cover various domains. In science and engineering one speaks of data or measurements that fließen in into models or simulations. In planning, budgeting, or decision-making one speaks of Erfahrungen, Kriterien, or Einflüsse, die in die Bewertung einfließen. The expression can also appear in passive or idiomatic forms such as etwas fließt in die Berechnung ein oder etwas fließen lassen, to let something influence a result.

Etymology and related terms: einfließen derives from the prefix ein- (into) and fließen (to flow). It is closely related to nouns like Einfluss (influence) and to verbs such as einbringen (to contribute) and einfließen lassen (to let something influence or contribute to a result).

See also: Einfluss, Einbringung, Einflüsse in Planung und Modellierung.