heranzuziehen

Heranziehen is a separable German verb formed from her- and anziehen. It is transitive and used in several related senses, including bringing someone nearer physically, enlisting or recruiting people, and drawing on sources or materials. The verb is conjugated with the prefix separated in the present tense (er zieht heran), and its past participle is herangezogen.

In the physical sense, heranziehen means to draw someone closer or toward oneself. For example: Sie zog den Jungen behutsam heran, damit er besser hören konnte. This usage emphasizes proximity or attention being directed toward the speaker or a focal point.

In a broader, figurative sense, heranziehen is used to recruit or enlist people or resources. Examples include: Der Verein hat neue Freiwillige herangezogen. Für das Projekt wurden Experten aus der Branche herangezogen. Es can also mean bringing in specialists to assist with a task or to bolster a team.

A third common use is to draw on or quote sources, data, or evidence. Thus: Für die Studie wurden aktuelle Daten herangezogen, um die Ergebnisse zu untermauern. Man kann auch sagen, man ziehe zusätzliche Belege heran. In this sense, the verb resembles suppliers of inputs or information being brought into a process.

Beside heranziehen, the related verb hinzuziehen means “to consult” or “to involve” someone in a discussion or decision. The nuance is subtle: hinzuziehen emphasizes advisory involvement, while heranziehen often stresses bringing someone into action or bringing resources closer to a task.

Etymology: the prefix her- indicates movement toward the speaker or toward a point of reference, combined with anziehen to pull or attract.