verschwenden
to waste
To use up something (such as time, money, or resources) unnecessarily, thoughtlessly, or without benefit.
EXAMPLE
Verschwende deine Zeit nicht mit unwichtigen Dingen.
Don't waste your time on unimportant things.
verschwenden
to waste
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Meanings
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Verschwenden' (to waste) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' always remains attached to the verb and often indicates that something is done incorrectly, used up, or led to a negative outcome.
EXAMPLE
Er hat sein ganzes Geld im Casino verschwendet.
He wasted all his money at the casino.
Sentence structure with prepositions
If you want to say what something is wasted on, you use the prepositions 'für' (for) or 'an' (on), followed by the accusative. The pattern is: etwas (accusative) für/an etwas (accusative) verschwenden.
EXAMPLE
Sie verschwendet zu viel Energie an unwichtige Diskussionen.
She wastes too much energy on unimportant discussions.
Typical collocations
'Verschwenden' (to waste) is often used with abstract resources. Typical combinations are: 'Zeit verschwenden' (to waste time), 'Geld verschwenden' (to waste money), 'Energie verschwenden' (to waste energy), or 'eine Chance verschwenden' (to waste an opportunity).
EXAMPLE
Lass uns keine Zeit verschwenden und direkt mit der Arbeit anfangen.
Let's not waste any time and start working right away.
Compare with
verschwenden vs wegwerfen
to throw away
Verschwenden describes using up something valuable without benefit or failing to use it sensibly. In a figurative sense, wegwerfen can mean carelessly giving up a valuable opportunity or talent. Use verschwenden for the waste itself, and wegwerfen for thoughtlessly giving up an opportunity.
verschwenden
Er verschwendete sein Talent, weil er jahrelang keine Aufgaben übernahm.
He wasted his talent because he did not take on any tasks for years.
wegwerfen
Er warf seine große Chance auf eine neue Stelle weg.
He threw away his great chance at a new job.
In real life
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