German word

hervorheben

Pronunciation

IPA/hɛɐ̯ˈfoːɐ̯ˌheːbən/

Meaning

  • verbemphasize

Example

Ich hebe das Wort hervor.

I emphasize the word.

Illustration for hervorheben (emphasize)

More examples

Im Gespräch will sie die Vorteile hervorheben.

In the conversation, she wants to emphasize the advantages.

Core concept

A speaker brings one detail to the front of attention while leaving the surrounding information in the background.

Common phrases

  • die Vorteile hervorheben

    emphasize the advantages

  • ein Detail hervorheben

    emphasize a detail

  • den Unterschied hervorheben

    emphasize the difference

Similar words

betonen: To give special stress to a word or part through speech.
herausstellen: To bring a particular point into clear focus.
unterstreichen: To highlight written words by marking a line beneath them.

Definition in German

durch Sprache oder Darstellung etwas besonders deutlich machen oder hervorstechen lassen.

Word origin

German formed hervorheben from the elements hervor and heben, with the combined image of lifting something forward developing into the figurative sense of emphasizing it.

Usage tips

  • The prefix separates in finite main clauses, so "Ich hebe das Wort hervor" has the verb parts at opposite ends of the clause.

Other meanings

  • highlightverb
  • accentuateverb

Opposites

  • bagatellisierendownplayverb
  • minimierenminimizeverb

Related words

  • Hervorhebungemphasisnoun
  • hervorgehobenhighlightedadjective

Word lists with this word