veroveren

Veroveren is a Dutch verb meaning to conquer, to capture, or to win control of territory, a group, or a situation. In military contexts it describes taking hold of land or fortifications, often through force or strategic action. In a broader sense it can also mean winning someone’s affection, gaining influence, or achieving dominance in a competition or market. The verb is transitive and typically used with a direct object, for example: een stad veroveren, een fort veroveren, of iemands gunst veroveren.

Grammatical information: veroveren is conjugated regularly. Present tense: ik verover, jij verovert, hij/zij verovert; past tense: ik veroverde, jij veroverde, hij veroverde; plural past: wij veroverden, jullie veroverden, zij veroverden. The perfect tense is formed with hebben: ik heb de stad veroverd. Passive voice is possible with worden: de stad werd veroverd. The noun form is verovering, meaning conquest or the act of conquering; the related adjective is veroverend.

Etymology and usage: veroveren combines a prefix ver- with a base that conveys taking or gaining. Historically it is used in contexts of warfare and colonization, but it also appears in modern rhetoric and business language to describe rapidly gaining share or influence. In everyday language it is common to speak of someone “iemand veroveren” to indicate romantic or social winning, and of “een provincie/verovering” in historical narratives.

See also: verovering, veroveraar, veroveringsdrang.

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