ausschließen
to exclude
To keep or remove someone or something from a group, place, or activity.
EXAMPLE
Wegen seines Verhaltens wurde er vom Verein ausgeschlossen.
Because of his behavior, he was excluded from the club.
ausschließen
to exclude / rule out
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Meanings
ausschließen
to rule out
To consider a possibility, cause, or scenario impossible or very unlikely.
EXAMPLE
Die Polizei kann ein Verbrechen nicht ausschließen und ermittelt in alle Richtungen.
The police cannot rule out a crime and are investigating in all directions.
sich ausschließen
to lock oneself out
To unintentionally make it impossible to get back into one's own apartment or room because the door has shut and one does not have the key.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe mich gestern Abend aus meiner Wohnung ausgeschlossen und musste den Schlüsseldienst rufen.
I locked myself out of my apartment yesterday evening and had to call the locksmith.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Ausschließen' is a separable verb. The prefix 'aus' goes at the end in a main clause. In a subordinate clause, the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Der Schiedsrichter schloss den Spieler nach dem Foul aus.
The referee excluded the player after the foul.
Word structure
The verb is made up of 'aus' (out) and 'schließen' (to close, to lock). The literal meaning is therefore to leave someone or something outside by closing the door.
EXAMPLE
Er hat den Hund aus dem Schlafzimmer ausgeschlossen.
He kept the dog out of the bedroom.
Preposition 'von'
When you exclude someone from an activity or group, the preposition 'von' is used with the dative. The structure is: 'jemanden von etwas ausschließen' (to exclude someone from something).
EXAMPLE
Sie wurde von der weiteren Teilnahme am Wettbewerb ausgeschlossen.
She was excluded from further participation in the competition.
Use with 'dass'
To describe a possibility as unlikely, the construction 'nicht ausschließen können, dass ...' (not be able to rule out that ...) is often used. It is followed by a subordinate clause.
EXAMPLE
Ich kann nicht ausschließen, dass ich einen Fehler gemacht habe.
I can't rule out that I made a mistake.
Reflexive use
The reflexive form 'sich ausschließen' has a very specific, everyday meaning: you have closed the door behind you and forgotten the key.
EXAMPLE
Sei vorsichtig mit der Tür, damit du dich nicht ausschließt.
Be careful with the door so you don't lock yourself out.
Compare with
ausschließen vs sperren
to block / to ban
Ausschließen and sperren can both prevent someone from taking part in an activity. „Ausschließen“ emphasizes that the person no longer belongs or is not allowed to participate; „sperren“ sounds more like an imposed, often temporary sanction. Use „ausschließen“ for removal from participation and „sperren“ for a ban on participation as a punishment.
ausschließen
Der Verein schloss den Spieler wegen seines Verhaltens vom Wettbewerb aus.
The club excluded the player from the competition because of his behavior.
sperren
Der Verband sperrte den Spieler wegen seines Verhaltens für drei Spiele.
The association suspended the player for three games because of his behavior.
In real life
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