übergreift

Übergreift is the third-person singular present tense form of the German verb übergreifen. The core meaning is to extend over or reach across boundaries, whether physical, thematic, or organizational. In figurative use, it describes things that span multiple areas, disciplines, or contexts and thus have cross-cutting relevance.

Etymology and sense: The verb is composed of the prefix über- and greifen (to grasp or seize). The combination conveys the idea of extending beyond a single domain and taking in adjacent areas. In contemporary German, übergreifen is commonly used in technical, administrative, and academic language to denote cross-domain applicability or influence.

Usage: In neutral, descriptive prose, übergreifen can take a direct object. Examples include: Der Begriff übergreift mehrere Fachgebiete. Die Maßnahme übergreift verschiedene Abteilungen. Das Konzept ist übergreifend und vernetzt verschiedene Bereiche. In addition, the related adjective/adverb form übergreifend is frequently used to characterize cross-cutting or cross-disciplinary aspects, as in übergreifende Strategien or ein übergreifendes Thema. The prepositional construction übergreifen auf is also found in some contexts to indicate applicability to or extension toward additional areas, though usage may vary by region and register.

Related terms: übergreifend, interdisziplinär, transdisziplinär, fachübergreifend. The choice among these terms depends on the precise sense of crossing boundaries, spanning disciplines, or integrating across domains.

See also: cross-disciplinary, interdisciplinary concepts and cross-cutting topics in organizational and policy contexts.