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adjectiveadjective

abgefahren

depart · wild

Definition & meaning

abgefahren has several meanings, depending on context:

  1. Departed / having left — the past participle of “to depart,” often used for trains, buses, or other vehicles.
    Der Zug ist schon abgefahren. means “The train has already left.”

  2. Worn down from use — especially used for tires whose tread has worn away.
    abgefahrene Reifen means “worn tires.”

  3. Colloquial: wild, bizarre, or very unconventional — often said of an idea, experience, or person. It can also mean “really cool” or “mind-blowing,” depending on tone.
    Das ist eine abgefahrene Idee. means “That’s a wild idea.”

Grammar & Word origin

abgefahren is the past participle of the separable verb abfahren , formed from ab (“away, off”) and fahren (“to travel, drive”). In the sense of departing, it is commonly used with sein : Der Zug ist abgefahren. As an adjective, it takes normal adjective endings, as in abgefahrene Reifen.

Synonyms & antonyms

The closest synonym depends on the meaning:

  • For departed: weg (“gone”) is more general; abgereist specifically means “having departed on a journey.”
  • For worn down: verschlissen [?](vocabuo://word/verschlissen] emphasizes wear from prolonged use; abgenutzt is a broader term for something worn or used.
  • For wild or unconventional: verrückt means “crazy” and can sound more negative; ausgefallen means “unusual” or “original,” with less emphasis on excitement.

Possible antonyms also depend on the sense:

  • For departed: angekommen (“arrived”).
  • For worn down: neu (“new”) or unbenutzt (“unused”).
  • For wild or unconventional: normal (“normal”) or gewöhnlich (“ordinary”).

Common phrases & collocations

  • Der Zug ist abgefahren. — “The train has left.” Figuratively, it can also mean that an opportunity has passed.
  • abgefahrene Reifen — worn tires.
  • eine abgefahrene Idee — a wild or unconventional idea.
  • Das ist echt abgefahren. — “That’s really wild/cool.”

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Examples

Der Bus ist schon abgefahren.adjective

The bus has already departed.

Deine neue Frisur sieht echt abgefahren aus!adjective

Your new hairstyle looks really wild!

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