zurückstellen

Zurückstellen is a German verb with several related meanings, typically involving moving something back in time or space. The most common uses are: (1) to postpone or defer a decision, plan, or action; (2) to reset a device, counter, or setting to a previous state; and (3) to place something back in its original position physically.

In the sense of postponement, zurückstellen means to delay something to a later time. Examples: Wir müssen den Termin zurückstellen. Die Lieferung wurde auf unbestimmte Zeit zurückgestellt. In administrative or project contexts it often implies shelving a plan temporarily rather than cancelling it.

In the technical sense, zurückstellen refers to resetting or restoring a parameter to its initial value, such as a timer or counter. Example: Den Timer auf Null zurückstellen.

In everyday language, it can also mean putting an object back where it belongs: Bitte das Buch zurückstellen.

Grammar and usage notes: Zurückstellen is a separable-prefix verb. In finite tenses you typically split the prefix: Ich stelle das Buch zurück. In the perfect tense the participle is zurückgestellt: Ich habe das Buch zurückgestellt. Semantically close verbs include verschieben (to move to a later time), aufschieben (to postpone, with a nuance of avoiding action), and zurücksetzen (to reset a device or setting, slightly more technical than zurückstellen).

Etymology: prefix zurück- means back, combined with stellen (to place). The term therefore covers both temporal postponement and restoring to a prior position or state.