vzdalovat

Vzdalovat is a Czech verb that primarily means to move away, to distance oneself, or to retreat. Its imperfective aspect indicates an ongoing or repeated action, while its perfective counterpart, vzdálit, signifies the completion of this action.

The verb can be used in both literal and figurative senses. Literally, it describes the physical act of increasing the distance between oneself and a location or person. For example, "Vlak se vzdaloval od nádraží" translates to "The train was moving away from the station." Figuratively, it can refer to growing apart emotionally or intellectually, or to gradually forgetting something. An instance of this could be, "Vzpomínky se mi vzdalovaly" meaning "My memories were fading."

The noun form derived from this verb is vzdálenost, meaning distance. Prepositional phrases involving "vzdalovat se" often include "od" (from) to specify the point of departure. The verb is quite common in everyday Czech conversation and literature, reflecting its fundamental meaning of separation or increasing separation.