aussteigen

Definition & meaning

aussteigen is a separable German verb with several related meanings:

1. To get out or get off a vehicle
   It means to leave a car, bus, train, airplane, or another means of transport.

   • Ich steige an der nächsten Haltestelle aus. — “I’m getting off at the next stop.”
   • Sie ist aus dem Auto ausgestiegen. — “She got out of the car.”

2. To withdraw, quit, or leave an activity or system
   It can mean to stop participating in something, especially a job, project, business, competition, or lifestyle.

   • Er ist aus dem Projekt ausgestiegen. — “He withdrew from the project.”
   • Sie möchte aus dem Unternehmen aussteigen. — “She wants to leave the company.”

3. To opt out or reject a conventional lifestyle
   In contexts such as society, consumerism, or professional life, it can mean to deliberately abandon the usual way of living.

   • Er ist aus dem Berufsleben ausgestiegen. — “He left working life.”
   • Sie ist aus dem System ausgestiegen. — “She opted out of the system.”

Grammar & Word origin

aussteigen consists of:

• aus ↗ — “out” or “from”
• steigen ↗ — “to climb,” “to rise,” or “to step”

It is a separable verb. In the present tense, the prefix moves to the end:

• Ich steige aus. — “I get out.”
• Du steigst aus. — “You get out.”
• Er steigt aus. — “He gets out.”

The perfect tense uses sein ↗:

• Ich bin ausgestiegen. — “I got out” or “I withdrew.”

Important forms:

• Infinitive: aussteigen
• Present, third-person singular: steigt aus
• Simple past: stieg aus
• Past participle: ausgestiegen

The preposition aus ↗ is commonly followed by the dative case:

• aus dem Zug — “from the train”
• aus der Firma — “from the company”

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

The appropriate synonym depends on the context:

• verlassen ↗ — “to leave.” This is more general and can refer to leaving a place, vehicle, organization, or person. Aussteigen specifically emphasizes getting out or withdrawing.
• herausgehen ↗ — “to go out.” This mainly describes physically leaving a place and is less suitable for quitting a project or career.
• aufgeben ↗ — “to give up” or “to abandon.” This emphasizes stopping an effort rather than simply leaving it.
• kündigen ↗ — “to resign” or “to terminate a contract.” This is more specific to employment or contractual relationships.
• sich zurückziehen [?](vocabuo://word/sich zurückziehen) — “to withdraw” or “to retreat.” This often suggests a deliberate reduction of involvement, sometimes without completely abandoning the activity.

Antonyms

• einsteigen ↗ — “to get in” or “to get on” a vehicle. In a figurative sense, it can mean entering or joining a business or activity.
• weitermachen ↗ — “to continue.” This is the opposite of aussteigen when the meaning is quitting or stopping participation.
• teilnehmen ↗ — “to participate” or “to take part.” This contrasts with withdrawing from an activity.
• beitreten ↗ — “to join” or “to become a member.” This is an opposite in organizational or group contexts.

Common phrases & collocations

• aus dem Zug aussteigen [?](vocabuo://word/aus dem Zug aussteigen) — to get off the train
• aus dem Auto aussteigen [?](vocabuo://word/aus dem Auto aussteigen) — to get out of the car
• an der nächsten Haltestelle aussteigen [?](vocabuo://word/an der nächsten Haltestelle aussteigen) — to get off at the next stop
• aus dem Projekt aussteigen [?](vocabuo://word/aus dem Projekt aussteigen) — to withdraw from the project
• aus dem Geschäft aussteigen [?](vocabuo://word/aus dem Geschäft aussteigen) — to leave or sell one’s stake in a business
• aus dem Berufsleben aussteigen [?](vocabuo://word/aus dem Berufsleben aussteigen) — to leave working life
• aus dem System aussteigen [?](vocabuo://word/aus dem System aussteigen) — to opt out of the system
• Jetzt steige ich aus. [?](vocabuo://word/Jetzt steige ich aus) — “I’m getting off now” or, figuratively, “I’m quitting now.”