ustoupit

Ustoupit is a Czech verb meaning to move back, yield, withdraw, or concede. It can describe a physical retreat, such as stepping aside to let someone pass, or a figurative retreat, such as backing down in a dispute or giving ground in negotiations. In everyday speech it is commonly used in traffic contexts (to yield to someone) as well as in political or interpersonal situations.

Etymology and nuance: the verb is formed with the prefix u- attached to stoupit (to step or rise). The prefix adds a sense of turning away or moving backward. Ustoupit is a perfective verb, so its present tense forms express future actions; the imperfective counterpart is ustupovat, which denotes ongoing or repeated yielding.

Conjugation and usage: ustoupit is conjugated as a typical Czech perfective verb: já ustoupím, ty ustoupíš, on ustoupí, my ustoupíme, vy ustoupíte, oni ustoupí. Imperative forms are ustup and ustupte. In past contexts, forms include ustoupil, ustoupila, ustoupilo, with the appropriate gender and number. Common prepositional patterns include ustoupit z (to withdraw from, give up) and ustoupit od (to back away from an obligation or position). In traffic or everyday cooperation, it often means to yield or to step aside for others.

Examples: “Řidič musel ustoupit z pravého pruhu, aby umožnil průjezd.” “Po dlouhé debatě nakonec ustoupil od své původní žádosti.” “Ustoupit z cesty” describes physically moving aside.

Related terms: the imperfective ustupovat (to be yielding, to be giving ground) contrasts with ustoupit. Synonyms or near-synonyms include dávat přednost (to give way) in more specific contexts; antonyms include stát si za svým (to stand one’s ground) or trvat (to persist).