Ausgeschöpften

Ausgeschöpften is the attributive, declined form of the German past participle ausgeschöpft, which functions as an adjective meaning exhausted, depleted, or fully utilized. The term describes a state in which a resource, capacity, or limit has been drawn from to its maximum extent. In everyday language and in technical contexts, it is used for natural resources, quotas, budgets, and capacities, indicating that nothing remains to be drawn or used.

Etymology and usage: aus- is a prefix meaning out or away, and schöpfen means to draw, tap, or derive. Together, ausgeschöpft conveys the idea of drawing out all that is available. The form ausgeschöpften appears in attributive position when referring to plural nouns (for example, die ausgeschöpften Ressourcen). The corresponding singular forms include das ausgeschöpfte Kontingent (neuter) or die ausgeschöpfte Ressource (feminine). In predicative use, one more commonly encounters ausgeschöpft: Die Ressourcen sind ausgeschöpft.

Contexts and nuance: The expression is typical in economics, energy policy, project planning, and budgeting to denote depletion or full utilization. It is usually contrasted with terms like aufgebraucht (consumed) or erschöpft (emotionally or physically exhausted). While ausgeschöpft focuses on the maximum availability being exhausted, erschöpft emphasizes fatigue or strain. The noun form Ausschöpfung (the exhaustion or depletion) is related and often used in formal discussions of resource management or policy.

See also: resource depletion, quota exhaustion, capacity utilization, Aufgebrauch, Erschöpfung.