utöva

Utöva is a Swedish verb meaning to exercise, to practice, or to carry out. It is used to describe the act of applying powers, rights, duties, or authorities, as well as performing specific actions. The infinitive is att utöva. In the present tense the form is utövar; in the past tense utövade; and the supine or past participle is utövat. The verb is commonly used with objects such as rättigheter, inflytande, mydnighet, or plikter, for example: han utövar sina rättigheter; myndigheterna utövar tillsyn.

Etymology and form: utöva is a compound formed from the prefix ut- and the verb öva, which means to practice or train. Öva itself derives from older Germanic roots connected with practice or exercise. The prefix ut- conveys a sense of outward extension or application, aligning with the idea of exercising or implementing something.

Usage notes: Utöva is frequent in formal, legal, and administrative language, particularly when describing the use of authority, rights, or responsibilities. It can describe both individual actions and institutional activities, such as a government body utövar sin jurisdiktion eller ett företag utövar inflytande över marknaden. In everyday speech it may also appear in contexts of personal capability, for example: att utöva sina färdigheter.

See also: öva, övning, rättigheter, myndighet.