verb

verglühen

burn out

Wenn etwas durch starke Hitze brennt und dabei ganz oder fast ganz zu Ende geht.

verglühen is a German verb meaning to burn up while glowing, to burn out, or to disappear as a result of intense heat.

It is commonly used in these contexts:

Literal meaning: An object becomes incandescent and is consumed by heat.
- Der Meteorit verglühte in der Atmosphäre.
  “The meteorite burned up in the atmosphere.”
Figurative meaning: Something gradually loses its intensity, energy, or brilliance.
- Seine Begeisterung verglühte schnell.
  “His enthusiasm quickly faded.”

It can also describe a person or their life metaphorically being consumed or used up, often in a poetic or dramatic context.

The word consists of:

ver-, a prefix that can indicate completion, transformation, or a negative result
glühen , meaning “to glow” or “to be incandescent”

Thus, verglühen literally conveys the idea of “glowing away” or “being consumed while glowing.”

verbrennen — “to burn”; more general and does not necessarily imply glowing
ausbrennen — “to burn out”; often used figuratively for people, energy, or motivation
erlöschen — “to go out” or “to be extinguished”; emphasizes the disappearance of light or fire rather than being consumed by heat
verlöschen — “to die out” or “to fade away”; often more literary and can be used figuratively
verglimmen — “to smolder away” or “to fade while glowing”; usually suggests a slower, dimmer process

There is no exact universal antonym. Depending on the context, possible opposites include:

entzünden — “to ignite” or “to set alight”; describes the beginning of burning
aufflammen — “to flare up”; indicates that a flame or feeling becomes suddenly stronger
aufglühen — “to begin glowing” or “to glow more intensely”; contrasts with glowing away
abkühlen — “to cool down”; the physical opposite of becoming incandescent

in der Atmosphäre verglühen — to burn up in the atmosphere
ein Meteorit verglüht — a meteorite burns up
ein Stern verglüht — a star burns out
im Feuer verglühen — to burn up in the fire
die Begeisterung verglüht — enthusiasm fades away
ein Leben verglühen lassen — to let a life be consumed or burn itself out, usually in a poetic or dramatic sense

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Die Sterne verglühen langsam am Himmel.verb

The stars are slowly burning out in the sky.

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