verbverb

wahren

preserve · maintain · keep

Definition & meaning

The German verb wahren means to preserve, maintain, or uphold a certain state, right, or quality. It is frequently used in formal or legal contexts to describe the act of ensuring that something remains intact or is respected.

There are several common contexts for this word:

Maintaining an appearance or etiquette: It is often used in phrases like "den Schein wahren" (to keep up appearances) or "die Form wahren" (to maintain etiquette/formality).
Protecting interests or rights: In legal or professional settings, one might "Interessen wahren" (to protect interests) or "Rechte wahren" (to uphold rights).
Keeping a physical or metaphorical distance: The expression "Abstand wahren" means to keep or maintain a distance.
Preserving silence or secrets: To "Stillschweigen wahren" means to maintain silence or keep a secret.

Grammar & Word origin

Wahren is a weak verb. Its principal parts are:

Present: er/sie/es wahrt
Preterite: wahrte
Perfect: hat gewahrt

The word originates from the Middle High German "warn" and Old High German "warōn," which meant to take care of, pay attention to, or watch over. It shares the same root as the English word "beware." It is also etymologically linked to the adjective wahr (true), as preserving something often implies keeping it in its "true" or original state.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

aufrechterhalten: To maintain or sustain a situation.
bewahren: To preserve or keep safe (often used interchangeably, though "bewahren" is more common for physical objects).
beibehalten: To retain or keep up a habit or state.
schützen: To protect.
hüten: To guard or watch over.