verb

zunehmen

gain · gain weight · increase

Es bedeutet, dass etwas größer, schwerer oder mehr wird.

Definition & meaning

zunehmen means to increase, grow, or become greater. It is used in several contexts:

To gain weight
Nach den Feiertagen hat sie zugenommen.
“She gained weight after the holidays.”
To increase in amount, number, strength, or intensity
Die Zahl der Bewerber nimmt zu.
“The number of applicants is increasing.”
Der Wind nimmt zu.
“The wind is getting stronger.”
For the moon to wax
Der Mond nimmt zu.
“The moon is waxing.”

The meaning is determined by the context. For people, it usually refers to weight gain; for things such as numbers, noise, wind, or problems, it means an increase.

Grammar & Word origin

zunehmen is an intransitive, separable verb.

Infinitive: zunehmen
Present tense: Ich nehme zu. — “I am gaining weight” / “I am increasing.”
Third-person present: Er nimmt zu. — “He is gaining weight” / “It is increasing.”
Simple past: Er nahm zu. — “He gained weight” / “It increased.”
Perfect: Er hat zugenommen. — “He has gained weight” / “It has increased.”
Participle II: zugenommen

As a separable verb, the prefix zu moves to the end of the clause in the present and simple past: Die Kosten nehmen zu. In the infinitive and participle, it remains attached: zunehmen, zugenommen.

The word is formed from zu , meaning “toward, additionally, or increasingly,” and nehmen , meaning “to take.” Historically, the combination developed the sense of becoming more or taking on additional quantity.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

wachsen — “to grow”; broader than zunehmen and often suggests natural development in size, age, or extent.
steigen — “to rise” or “increase”; commonly used for prices, temperatures, numbers, and levels.
sich erhöhen — “to increase”; more formal and often used for measurable quantities.
an Gewicht gewinnen — “to gain weight”; a more explicit expression than zunehmen when discussing body weight.
sich verstärken — “to intensify” or “become stronger”; used for effects, sounds, tendencies, or forces rather than physical size.

Antonyms

abnehmen — “to lose weight” or “to decrease”; this is the most direct opposite of zunehmen.
sinken — “to fall” or “decline”; mainly used for levels, prices, temperatures, and quantities.
sich verringern — “to decrease” or “be reduced”; a formal opposite for measurable amounts.
schrumpfen — “to shrink”; emphasizes becoming physically smaller or substantially reduced.