ergreifen
to seize
To take something quickly and often firmly with the hand; to grab something.
EXAMPLE
Er ergriff ihren Arm, um sie zurückzuhalten.
He seized her arm to hold her back.
ergreifen
to seize / take
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Meanings
Maßnahmen ergreifen
to take measures
To initiate certain actions or steps in order to achieve a goal or respond to a situation.
EXAMPLE
Die Regierung muss dringend Maßnahmen gegen die Inflation ergreifen.
The government urgently has to take measures against inflation.
ergreifen
to move
To touch or move someone strongly emotionally.
EXAMPLE
Die traurige Geschichte hat mich tief ergriffen.
The sad story moved me deeply.
die Gelegenheit ergreifen
to seize the opportunity
To make use of a good possibility or chance.
EXAMPLE
Als sich die Chance bot, im Ausland zu arbeiten, hat er sofort die Gelegenheit ergriffen.
When the chance arose to work abroad, he immediately seized the opportunity.
einen Beruf ergreifen
to enter a profession
To decide on a particular career path and begin it.
EXAMPLE
Sie wollte schon immer den Beruf der Ärztin ergreifen.
She had always wanted to enter the medical profession.
ergreifen
to apprehend
To catch and arrest a person who has fled or committed a crime.
EXAMPLE
Der Polizei gelang es, den flüchtigen Dieb zu ergreifen.
The police managed to apprehend the fleeing thief.
das Wort ergreifen
to take the floor
To begin speaking in a discussion or meeting.
EXAMPLE
Nach langem Schweigen ergriff schließlich der Oppositionsführer das Wort.
After a long silence, the opposition leader finally took the floor.
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
The prefix 'er-' is inseparable. It remains firmly attached to the verb 'greifen' (to grasp) in all sentence forms and is not placed at the end of the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Sie ergriff die Chance und bewarb sich für die Stelle.
She seized the opportunity and applied for the position.
Register and style
'Ergreifen' (to seize / take) is often more formal, elevated, or literary than the simpler verb 'nehmen' (to take). It is frequently used to describe a decisive or meaningful action.
EXAMPLE
Der König ergriff die Macht nach dem Tod seines Vaters.
The king seized power after his father's death.
Emotional effect
To express that one is emotionally touched, the form 'ergriffen sein' (to be moved) is often used. In this case, the person is the subject of the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Wir waren alle tief von seiner Rede ergriffen.
We were all deeply moved by his speech.
Fixed expression
The combination 'Maßnahmen ergreifen' (to take measures) is a very common fixed expression in formal contexts such as politics, business, or administration.
EXAMPLE
Die Stadt muss schnell Maßnahmen ergreifen, um die Luftqualität zu verbessern.
The city has to take measures quickly to improve air quality.
Fixed expression
The expression 'die Gelegenheit ergreifen' (to seize the opportunity) is a fixed collocation and means to actively make use of a good chance. It is often expanded with 'um zu...' (in order to...).
EXAMPLE
Ich habe die Gelegenheit ergriffen, um mein Deutsch zu verbessern.
I seized the opportunity to improve my German.
Fixed expression
The expression 'einen Beruf ergreifen' (to enter a profession) is a formal way to say that one decides on a career and begins it. It is often used in the context of résumés or biographical narratives.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Abitur wusste er nicht sofort, welchen Beruf er ergreifen sollte.
After graduating from high school, he did not immediately know which profession he should enter.
Context clue
In the meaning 'fangen' (to catch) or 'festnehmen' (to arrest), 'ergreifen' (to apprehend) is used almost exclusively in the context of the police, the justice system, and the pursuit of suspects or fugitives.
EXAMPLE
Spezialeinheiten konnten den Täter auf seiner Flucht ergreifen.
Special units were able to apprehend the perpetrator while he was fleeing.
Fixed expression
'Das Wort ergreifen' (to take the floor) is a fixed idiom in discussions, debates, or meetings. It means that one begins to speak to the group.
EXAMPLE
Während der Konferenz ergriff eine junge Wissenschaftlerin das Wort.
During the conference, a young scientist took the floor.
Compare with
Unternehmennutzenwählenbewegengreifenfangenfassenerfassenberührenpackenfestnehmeneinleitenaufgreifenzugreifenbefallenhinreißen
ergreifen vs Unternehmen
company / undertaking
As a noun, Unternehmen can refer to a planned, often difficult action. Ergreifen is part of the expression „Maßnahmen ergreifen“ and describes initiating specific steps. Use Unternehmen for the project as a whole, and ergreifen for initiating concrete measures.
ergreifen
Die Bergwacht ergreift konkrete Maßnahmen zur Rettung der eingeschlossenen Wanderer.
The mountain rescue service is taking concrete measures to rescue the trapped hikers.
Unternehmen
Die Rettung der eingeschlossenen Wanderer ist ein schwieriges Unternehmen.
Rescuing the trapped hikers is a difficult undertaking.
In real life
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