Aufleuchten

Aufleuchten is a German verb formed from the prefix auf- and the verb leuchten. It has a literal sense meaning to light up or brighten, and a figurative sense meaning to become noticeable, to dawn on someone, or to come into view. In everyday usage, it often describes lights turning on or increasing in brightness, as well as the moment when something becomes clear or evident.

Grammatically, aufleuchten is a separable-prefix verb. In the present tense the prefix splits off: Die Lichter leuchten auf. In the perfect tense it appears as aufgeleuchtet: Die Lichter haben aufgeleuchtet. The imperfect (simple past) is leuchteten auf. The imperative is Leuchte auf or Leuchten Sie auf. Like other light-related verbs, it can be used with various subjects, including people, objects, or scenes.

Common contexts include both literal and metaphorical uses. Literal: die Straßenbeleuchtung leuchtet auf, die Scheinwerfer leuchten auf. Metaphorical: eine Erkenntnis leuchtet auf, eine Stimmung leuchtet auf, oder die Augen einer Person leuchten auf, wenn sie etwas Positives sieht. The term can also describe lighting changes in stage or film settings, where lights are brought up to enhance a moment.

In sum, aufleuchten covers both the physical act of lights turning on or intensifying and the more abstract sense of something becoming visible, noticeable, or emotionally apparent.