regen

Definition & meaning

regen is a German verb meaning to move, stir, or set something in motion. It is often used reflexively:

• sich regen means to move or stir, sometimes barely or after being still.
  Im Gebüsch regte sich etwas. — “Something stirred in the bushes.”
• etwas regen means to move or stir something, though this use is relatively uncommon.
• jemanden zu etwas anregen means to prompt, encourage, or inspire someone to do something. This is the common related verb anregen.

The capitalized noun der Regen means “rain” and is a different word in ordinary usage.

Grammar & Word origin

regen is a regular, weak verb. Its principal forms are regte (simple past) and hat geregt (past participle). In the common reflexive construction, it appears as sich regen: Er hat sich geregt (“He moved/stirred”).

The verb is recorded in older forms of German with the sense “to move” or “stir.” Its history is distinct from the everyday meaning of the noun der Regen (“rain”).

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms depend on context:

• sich bewegen ↗ — “to move”; more general and neutral than sich regen.
• sich rühren ↗ — “to move” or “stir”; often used to emphasize that someone or something has not moved.
• anregen ↗ — “to stimulate, prompt, or inspire”; fits the sense of encouraging activity or thought, not physical movement.

There is no single direct antonym for all uses. Depending on the context:

• stillhalten ↗ — “to keep still,” the opposite of moving.
• hemmen ↗ — “to inhibit or impede,” the opposite of stimulating or encouraging.

Common phrases & collocations

• sich kaum regen ↗ — to barely move.
• sich nicht regen ↗ — to remain completely still.
• jemanden zum Nachdenken anregen ↗ — to prompt someone to think.
• eine Diskussion anregen ↗ — to stimulate or start a discussion.