fortbewegen

Fortbewegen is a German verb meaning to move something forward, to advance it in space, or to promote progress. The term is formed from the prefix fort- (forward, onward) and the verb bewegen (to move). It is typically used in technical, logistical, or formal contexts to describe the act of shifting an object or component in a forward direction.

In German, fortbewegen is a separable-prefix verb. In conjugation, the prefix fort- appears at the end of the sentence in main clauses, for example: Ich bewege den Wagen fort. Er hat den Lastwagen fortbewegt. The noun form Fortbewegung, while related, denotes forward movement or locomotion and is used more often to describe the general way an organism or vehicle moves, rather than the act of moving a specific object forward.

Common contexts for fortbewegen include logistics and transport planning (moving cargo forward within a system), mechanical engineering (advancing components in a forward direction), and military or field operations (forward movement of troops or equipment). It can also be used metaphorically to describe progress in a project or strategy, as in advancing toward a goal.

Related terms include Fortbewegung (locomotion or forward movement) and vorwärts bewegen (to move forward, more general or colloquial). Fortbewegen thus occupies a niche where a deliberate forward displacement of an object is described, distinct from broader locomotion or abstract progress.

See also: Fortbewegung; vorwärts bewegen.