voorgaan

Voorgaan is a Dutch verb meaning to preside over, lead, or officiate at a ceremony, service, or formal event. It is most commonly used in religious contexts to indicate that a person, such as a minister or priest, leads the liturgy or sermon. In secular or civic settings, voorgaan can also mean to chair or lead a meeting or official event, for example a burgemeester who voorgaat de vergadering. The phrase often describes the act of guiding the proceedings rather than performing the duties of a speaker or participant.

Etymology and usage notes: voorgaan derives from voor- meaning before and gaan meaning to go, conveying the sense of going before or leading. It is typically used with the event as the object (de dienst voorgaan, de vergadering voorgaan). In many contexts the person who leads is called de voorganger or officiant. The related verb voorafgaan means to precede in order or time, illustrating a different nuance from presiding.

Context and scope: Although most common in religious or ceremonial language, voorgaan can occur in any situation where one person leads a formal program or sequence of activities. In everyday language, speakers may use synonyms such as leiden or presideren, but voorgaan stresses the ceremonial or leading aspect of the role.

See also: voorganger, leiden, presideren, officiant, voorzitter, voorafgaan.