verb

hervorheben

highlight · emphasize

Etwas deutlich machen, sodass es mehr auffällt als anderes.

Definition & meaning

The German verb hervorheben primarily means to emphasize, highlight, or stress a specific piece of information, a fact, or a quality. It is used when someone wants to make something stand out from a context or a group of other things to ensure it receives special attention.

In a literal or physical sense, it can also mean to make something visually prominent so that it catches the eye against its background. For example, a graphic designer might use a specific color to hervorheben a button on a website. In most contexts, however, it is used figuratively in speech or writing to underscore the importance of an argument or a detail.

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a separable verb (trennbares Verb). Its components are:

hervor: a prefix meaning forth, out, or forward.
heben: a basic verb meaning to lift or to raise.

Literally, hervorheben translates to "to lift something forward" or "to lift something out."

In terms of conjugation, it is a strong verb:

Present: er/sie/es hebt hervor
Preterite: er/sie/es hob hervor
Perfect: er/sie/es hat hervorgehoben

Because it is separable, the prefix moves to the end of the sentence in simple tenses (e.g., "Der Lehrer hebt die Bedeutung der Grammatik hervor").

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms To express the idea of emphasizing or making something stand out, you can use:

betonen: To stress or emphasize a point in speech.
unterstreichen: Literally to underline, but figuratively to stress the importance of something.
herausstellen: To point out or clarify a specific aspect.
akzentuieren: To accentuate or put focus on a detail.

Antonyms Words that express the opposite meaning (hiding or downplaying) include: