zurückläuft

Zurückläuft is the present-tense form of the German verb zurücklaufen, a separable-prefix verb built from zurück- (back) and laufen (to run or walk). In its literal sense, zurücklaufen means to move back toward a starting point or to return from a place. It can describe a person, animal, or object that goes back, for example “Er läuft zurück zum Haus” or “Sie läuft zurück nach Hause.” In standard orthography the prefix is separated in finite tenses, so the present tense is written as two words: er läuft zurück.

Beyond physical movement, zurücklaufen is used figuratively to indicate a reversal, rollback, or decrease. For instance, prices, opportunities, or momentum can “zurücklaufen” or “laufen zurück” when they retreat to a lower level. The term can also describe a return to a previous state or condition, such as a decline in stock levels or a trend that moves backward.

Conjugation and syntax: zurücklaufen is intransitive and uses sein as the auxiliary in the perfect tenses. Present tense forms include ich laufe zurück, du läufst zurück, er läuft zurück, wir laufen zurück, ihr lauft zurück, sie laufen zurück. The past participle is zurückgelaufen, as in ich bin zurückgelaufen. The infinitive is zurücklaufen, and the imperative forms are Lauf zurück! or Lauft zurück!.

Etymology: zurücklaufen combines zurück, meaning “back,” with laufen, meaning “to run” or “to walk.” It is commonly used in standard German and appears in both literal and figurative contexts.