to clear / pave
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to make one's way
To laboriously make one's way through an obstacle, such as a crowd of people or dense undergrowth.
Die Rettungskräfte bahnten sich einen Weg durch die Trümmer.
The rescue workers made their way through the rubble.
The verb 'bahnen' is related to the noun 'die Bahn' (the path, the route). Literally, it means to create a path or route.
Der Schneepflug bahnte einen Weg durch den hohen Schnee.
The snowplow cleared a path through the deep snow.
The verb 'bahnen' belongs to a rather elevated, formal, or literary style. You find it more often in texts than in everyday spoken language.
Diese Erfindung könnte neuen Technologien den Weg bahnen.
This invention could pave the way for new technologies.
In this meaning, the verb is used reflexively with a dative pronoun and an accusative object: 'sich (dative) einen Weg (accusative) bahnen' (to make one's way).
Ich bahnte mir einen Weg durch die dichte Menschenmenge.
I made my way through the dense crowd.
In the abstract meaning, the fixed expression 'den Weg für etwas bahnen' (to pave the way for something) is often used. Here, 'bahnen' takes a direct accusative object.
Die Verhandlungen sollen den Weg für eine friedliche Lösung bahnen.
The negotiations are intended to pave the way for a peaceful solution.
to prevent
'verhindern' and 'bahnen' can be used as opposites when talking about possibilities for the future. 'verhindern' means that something cannot or should not happen. In this meaning, 'bahnen' means that you prepare something or make it possible. You especially often hear 'den Weg für etwas bahnen' (to pave the way for something). Then you create the conditions so that something can happen more easily later. So 'verhindern' blocks a development, while 'bahnen' makes it possible.
Die neuen Gespräche bahnen den Weg für eine bessere Zusammenarbeit.
The new talks are paving the way for better cooperation.
Die hohen Kosten verhindern, dass das Projekt sofort beginnt.
The high costs prevent the project from starting immediately.