ausdenken

Ausdenken is a German verb meaning to think up, devise, or contrive something. It is used when someone creates an idea, plan, story, excuse, or other concept by thinking it through. The nuance often implies intentionality or ingenuity, and the word can carry neutral, positive, or negative connotations depending on context.

Grammatical notes: ausdenken is a separable verb. In the present tense it is split, as in denken (to think) with the prefix aus- separated: Ich denke mir etwas aus. Here mir is a dative pronoun referring to the person for whom the idea is being conceived, and etwas is the direct object. In constructions without a reflexive pronoun, one can say Ich denke mir etwas aus, or simply Ich denke etwas aus. The perfect tense uses the auxiliary haben, with the past participle ausgedacht: Ich habe mir etwas ausgedacht. The reflexive form sich etwas ausdenken is also common: Wir haben uns eine Lösung ausgedacht.

Common usage and examples: ausdenken is often paired with concrete objects like Geschichten, Ausreden, Lügen, Pläne, oder Lösungen. Examples include: Ich habe mir eine Geschichte ausgedacht. Wir haben uns eine neue Ausrede ausgedacht. Er hat eine Lüge ausgedacht. In many contexts it emphasizes the creative or contrived nature of the thought process.

Related terms: erfinden and entwickeln are broader or more neutral alternatives for “invent” or “develop,” while ausdenken specifically emphasizes the act of thinking something up, often with a connotation of cleverness or scheming. The expression sich etwas ausdenken is idiomatic for “to think up something for oneself.”