German Conversation · Level 68
60 words
German word
Gegenwart
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈgeːgn̩ˌvaʁt/
Meaning
- feminine nounpresent
Example
Die Gegenwart ist wichtig.
The present is important.
More examples
Es ist wichtig, in der Gegenwart zu leben.
It is important to live in the present.
Core concept
A shared here-and-now containing the current period and everyone or everything present in it.
Common phrases
in der Gegenwart leben
live in the present
in der Gegenwart bleiben
remain in the present
Similar words
Präsens: The grammatical tense for actions or states happening now.
Vergangenheit: Events or the period before the present.
Zukunft: Events or the period after the present.
Definition in German
Gegenwart bezeichnet den aktuellen Zeitpunkt oder die gegenwärtige Zeitperiode.
Word origin
The noun Gegenwart comes from Middle High German gegenwart and combines gegen with the old element wart, associated with being before or present.
Usage tips
- Gegenwart is feminine, so the standard phrase is 'in der Gegenwart'; it is normally singular when referring to the present.
Other meanings
- presencenoun
Opposites
- Vergangenheitpastnoun
Related words
- gegenwärtigpresentadjective
- Gegenwartsliteraturcontemporary literaturenoun