verb

auskosten

savor

Etwas Schönes oder Angenehmes bis zum Ende ganz intensiv erleben und jede Sekunde davon genießen.

Definition & meaning

The verb auskosten means to enjoy something to the fullest, to savor, or to relish an experience. It implies taking the time to appreciate every detail and nuance of a positive situation, sensation, or moment until it is completely exhausted.

While the word can be used in a literal sense regarding food or drink (tasting something thoroughly), it is most commonly used in a figurative sense. People use it when talking about savoring success, a hard-earned holiday, a moment of triumph, or a specific feeling like freedom or joy. In some contexts, it can also mean to experience something negative to the bitter end, though the positive connotation is much more frequent.

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a separable verb (trennbares Verb). In a sentence, the prefix aus moves to the end: "Ich koste den Moment aus" (I am savoring the moment). Its principal parts are kostete aus (past tense) and ausgekostet (past participle).

Etymologically, it is composed of the prefix aus, which in this context means "to completion" or "thoroughly," and the verb kosten. In this case, "kosten" refers to the older meaning of tasting or sampling food (related to the English "to cost" but sharing a root with "gustation"). Therefore, the literal meaning is "to taste something until it is finished."