aufheben

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German

Etymology

From auf- +‎ heben.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈaʊ̯fˌheːbən/, ,
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  • Hyphenation: auf‧he‧ben

Verb

aufheben (class 6 strong, third-person singular present hebt auf, past tense hob auf or (archaic) hub auf, past participle aufgehoben, past subjunctive höbe auf or (archaic) hübe auf, auxiliary haben)

  1. to pick up (something lying on the ground)
    Synonyms: aufsammeln, auflesen
    Er hob seinen Hut wieder auf, der ihm vom Kopf geweht wurde.
    He picked his hat back up, which had been blown off his head.
  2. (often with reflexive dative) to keep something for the future (emphasis on not throwing away)
    Synonym: aufbewahren
    Ein Brötchen hab ich schon gegessen und das andere heb ich mir für später auf.
    I’ve already eaten one breadroll and the other one I keep for later.
    Sie hat all unsere Spielsachen bis heute aufgehoben.
    She's kept all of our old toys to this day.
  3. to abolish (rule, law, etc.)
    Synonym: abschaffen (broader)
    Die Prohibition wurde aufgehoben.
    Prohibition was abolished.
  4. to sublate (preserve and cancel simultaneously)

Usage notes

  • There is little if any room for confusion between the senses “keep” and “abolish” since the former is used with material things and the latter with immaterial things.

Conjugation

Derived terms

Further reading