runterkommen

Definition & meaning

The verb runterkommen has several meanings depending on the context:

1. To descend/come down: This is the literal movement from a higher place to a lower place (e.g., coming downstairs or climbing down from a tree).
2. To calm down/relax: Used figuratively to describe the process of becoming less agitated, stressed, or excited after a period of high intensity or emotional strain.
3. To come down from a drug: In a colloquial context, it describes the process of recovering from the effects of a psychoactive substance as the high wears off.
4. To be affordable: Rarely, it is used to describe a price decreasing or "coming down" to a more acceptable level.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar:

• Part of speech: Separable verb (trennbare Verben). In a main clause, the prefix "runter-" moves to the end of the sentence.
  • Example: "Ich komme jetzt runter." (I am coming down now.)
• Conjugation: Irregular (strong). Past tense (Präteritum): "kam runter"; Participle: "runtergekommen".
• Auxiliary verb: "sein" (as it expresses a change of location or state).

Word origin: It is a colloquial contraction of the German word "herunterkommen". "Herunter" indicates motion towards the speaker or a lower point, and "kommen" means to come.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

• herunterkommen↗ (the standard/formal version of the same word).
• sich beruhigen↗ (to calm down/settle down).
• absteigen↗ (to descend/climb down).
• entspannen↗ (to relax).

Antonyms:

• hochkommen↗ (to come up/ascend).
• aufregen↗ (to get excited/upset).
• aufsteigen↗ (to ascend/climb up).