hervorkommen

Definition & meaning

The verb hervorkommen primarily means to come out, to emerge, or to appear. It describes the action of moving from a place of concealment, cover, or obscurity into a space where the subject is visible or out in the open.

There are a few nuances to its usage:

1. Physical movement: To step out or emerge from behind something. For example, a person coming out from behind a tree or a mouse coming out of its hole.
2. Natural phenomena: To become visible after being obscured. This is frequently used for the sun or moon appearing from behind clouds.
3. Abstract or figurative emergence: To become apparent or to manifest. This can refer to feelings, traits, or facts that were previously hidden or suppressed.

Grammar & Word origin

hervorkommen is a separable verb (trennbares Verb). This means that in a standard main clause in the present or simple past tense, the prefix hervor- moves to the end of the sentence.

• Present tense: "Er kommt hinter dem Vorhang hervor." (He comes out from behind the curtain.)
• Simple past: "Die Sonne kam hinter den Wolken hervor." (The sun came out from behind the clouds.)
• Perfect tense: It uses the auxiliary verb sein↗ because it denotes a change of position or movement. The past participle is hervorgekommen.

The word is composed of two parts:

• hervor: An adverbial prefix meaning "forth," "out," or "forward from a place."
• kommen↗: The basic verb meaning "to come."

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

• erscheinen↗: To appear or become visible.
• auftauchen↗: To surface, emerge, or show up suddenly.
• heraustreten↗: To step out.
• zum Vorschein kommen[?](vocabuo://word/zum Vorschein kommen): To come to light or to appear.

Antonyms:

• verschwinden↗: To disappear or vanish.
• sich verstecken[?](vocabuo://word/sich verstecken): To hide oneself.
• untergehen↗: To go down or set (often used for the sun as the opposite of emerging).
• verborgen bleiben[?](vocabuo://word/verborgen bleiben): To remain hidden.