bewirken

Bewirken is a German verb meaning to cause, bring about, or effect a result. It denotes the act of producing a change or outcome through a deliberate action or process. The word is transitive, requiring a direct object that names the effect, for example: eine Veränderung bewirken (to bring about a change) or eine Reaktion bewirken (to cause a reaction).

Usage and nuance: Bewirken is commonly found in formal and written German, including journalism, science, law, and politics. It can be used with the preposition durch to indicate the means or mechanism of the effect: durch neue Maßnahmen eine Veränderung bewirken. In many contexts it describes intentional or effective influence, rather than mere causation. Collocations include eine positive Wirkung bewirken, eine Veränderung bewirken, or etwas bewusst bewirken.

Conjugation: The verb follows regular weak-verb patterns. Present tense: bewirkt; simple past: bewirkte; present perfect: hat bewirkt. Example sentences: Die Maßnahme bewirkt eine nachhaltige Veränderung. Die Maßnahme bewirkte eine Veränderung. Die Maßnahme hat eine Veränderung bewirkt.

Etymology and related terms: Bewirken is formed from be- plus wirken, with wirken meaning to act or to have an effect. The prefix be- adds a sense of causation or direct impact. Related German verbs include verursachen (to cause), auslösen (to trigger), and herbeiführen (to bring about), each with subtle differences in emphasis on causation, triggering, or orchestration.

See also: Wirkung (effect), Wirkungsvoll (effective).