tilbagelagt

Tilbagelagt is a Danish adjective and past participle of the verb tilbagelægge. It denotes something that has been traversed or completed: a distance covered, a route that has been travelled, or a period of time or a process that has been endured. The word is neutral and descriptive, not evaluative.

Etymology: tilbagelagt derives from tilbagelægge, a compound of tilbage (back, behind) and lægge (to lay). The historical sense is to lay behind or to go over; in modern usage it mainly refers to travel, sports, logistics, or the progress of a project.

Usage: In travel and sports reporting one speaks of tilbagelagt distance or route, for example tilbagelagt distance på 15 kilometer. Figuratively, it can describe progress or distance in life or a project, as in en tilbagelagt rejse or et tilbagelagt forløb. In Danish texts, tilbagelagt emphasizes completion up to the present moment rather than ongoing action.

Related terms: synonyms include gennemført (completed) and overstået (finished). Related phrases include tilbagelagt rute or distance and idiomatic versions such as have tilbagelagt en lang vej (to have come a long way). The term is commonly found in Danish journalism, travel writing, and logistics documentation.