noun

das Erleben, null

experience

Definition & meaning

The verb erleben generally means to experience or to live through something. It describes the act of being present during an event or having a specific occurrence happen to oneself.

  1. To undergo or witness: To be a participant in or a spectator of an event (e.g., "We experienced a storm").
  2. To live to see something: To reach a certain point in time or a specific milestone in life (e.g., "She lived to see her grandchildren").
  3. To encounter or perceive: To come across something or be affected by a particular state of affairs.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar:

  • Part of speech: Verb (weak/regular).
  • Conjugation: erlebt (present), erlebte (past), hat erlebt (perfect).
  • Structure: It is an inseparable verb composed of the prefix er- and the root verb leben .

Origin: The prefix er- implies the successful completion of an action or the attainment of a state, while leben means to live. Combined, it denotes the process of living through something until it is complete or perceived.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • mitmachen (to participate in/go through)
  • durchleben (to live through something, often implying hardship)
  • erfahren (to learn by experience or undergo)
  • miterleben (to witness or share in an experience)

Antonyms:

  • verpassen (to miss out on an experience)
  • versäumen (to neglect or fail to experience something)

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Examples

Wir wollen gemeinsam etwas Schönes erleben.noun

We want to experience something beautiful together.

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