vorausdenken

to think ahead

verb FRYE-hites-lee-bend Rare

Also means

to think proactively

Usage Note

Vorausdenken means to think ahead and anticipate future consequences or needs. It is used positively in management and planning contexts. Wer vorausdenkt, ist besser vorbereitet is a typical formulation.

Examples

"Gute Führungskräfte müssen immer vorausdenken."

Natural Translation

Good leaders always have to think ahead.

Literal Translation

Good leaders must always think-ahead.

Free starter pack

Building your German vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common German words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

German Days, Months & Seasons (am, im & -tag)

Days of the week in German use am, months and seasons use im — plus the -tag pattern, capitalized nouns, and how to build a real sentence with a day.

June 5, 2026 4 min read

GermanNow

Du vs. Sie: When to Use Each in German

Use Sie with strangers, elders, and at work; use du with friends, family, kids, and peers. Here's how to pick the right German you every time.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German Umlauts & ß: Sounds and Typing

Pronounce ä, ö, ü with the front-tongue, rounded-lips rule, master the ß vs ss spelling, and type every German umlaut on Mac, Windows, and phone.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German False Friends: 25 Words That Trick You

German false friends like Gift (poison) and bekommen (to receive) trick English speakers daily. Here are 25 words that mean the opposite of what you'd guess.

June 5, 2026 5 min read