ausbessern

Ausbessern is a German verb that denotes repairing or remedying defects in a physical object, and it can also mean improving a situation by correcting faults or shortfalls. The term is used for both tangible repairs, such as clothing, furniture, or machinery, and for figurative corrections, such as improving a performance or compensating for shortcomings.

Etymology and scope: Ausbessern combines the prefix aus- with bessern, meaning to better or improve. The prefix indicates completion or thorough correction. In everyday language, ausbessern is typically used for small to moderate fixes rather than major reconstruction. It is common in contexts like mending a tear in fabric, fixing scratched surfaces, correcting a misprint, or making up for a poor result by subsequent effort. In some cases, more general or formal alternatives such as nachbessern (to improve afterward) or reparieren may be used, depending on the nuance.

Usage and grammar: Ausbessern is a separable-prefix verb. In the present tense, the prefix is separated, as in Ich bessere die Mängel aus. The past participle is ausgebessert, used with auxiliary haben, e.g., Er hat den Schaden ausgebessert. The verb is often used transitively with a direct object indicating what is being repaired or corrected, and it can also be used in passive or reflexive constructions.

See also: Nachbesserung, Reparatur, Korrektur, Konstruktive Verbesserung.