voorlopend

Voorlopend is a Dutch adjective used to describe something that comes before or serves as a first, incomplete stage in a process. The sense is closely related to provisional or preliminary in English, indicating that what is described is not final and may be revised or replaced. The term can apply to time, order, or status, referring to conditions or results that precede a final version or decision.

Etymology and form: Voorlopend is formed from the prefix voor- meaning before, combined with a participle form related to lopen (to run or to proceed). It is derived from the verb voorlopen, which denotes preceding or going ahead. In Dutch usage, the more common adverbial form is voorlopig, and the standard adjectival form to modify a noun is voorlopige. Voorlopend is therefore typically found in more formal or technical registers, where a precise sense of “in the lead at an early stage” is required, or in fixed expressions.

Usage and contexts: The term is used in contexts where a status, assessment, plan, or finding is not yet final. In legal, administrative, academic, or policy writing, voorlopend conveys that a step or viewpoint precedes the ultimate outcome. In everyday language, speakers more often use voorlopig or voorlopige to express provisional status, while voorlopend appears mainly in formal prose or technical descriptions.

See also: voorlopig, voorlopige, voorlopigheid. Notes: Usage can vary by region and context; in many ordinary conversations, the more common forms are preferred, with voorlopend reserved for specialized or formal text.