German word

ausmachen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈaʊ̯sˌmaxn̩/

Meaning

  • verbturn off

Example

Ich mache das Licht aus.

I turn off the light.

Illustration for ausmachen (turn off)

More examples

Kannst du bitte den Fernseher ausmachen?

Could you please turn off the TV?

Core concept

A process is brought out of operation and brought to a settled endpoint.

Common phrases

  • das Licht ausmachen

    turn off the light

  • das Radio ausmachen

    turn off the radio

  • die Kerze ausmachen

    put out the candle

Similar words

ausschalten: Cutting power to an electrical appliance so it stops running.
abstellen: Shutting down a machine or device to end its operation.
löschen: Making a flame, light, or display disappear completely.
ausgehen: Going out or stopping by itself.

Definition in German

etwas (z. B. Licht) durch Abschalten beenden; im übertragenen Sinn: eine Vereinbarung treffen oder etwas festlegen

Word origin

The separable compound combines aus, expressing outward movement or completion, with machen, and its concrete off sense extended to settling or determining something.

Usage tips

  • As a separable verb, ausmachen places aus at the end of a main clause, as in Ich mache das Licht aus.

Other meanings

  • agree onverb
  • account forverb
  • mindverb

Opposites

Related words

  • ausgemachtsettledadjective

Word lists with this word