herauszufinden

Herauszufinden is a German verb formed from the separable prefix heraus- and the verb finden. It means to discover or to find out something that is not yet known, often by seeking, questioning, or analyzing. The term is commonly used for uncovering facts, causes, or solutions, and it can apply to both practical information and personal insights; it carries a neutral, descriptive tone rather than a moral judgment.

Grammatically, herausfinden is a separable-prefix verb. In finite forms the prefix splits: ich finde es heraus, du findest es heraus, er findet es heraus. The past participle is herausgefunden, used with haben in compound tenses: Ich habe es herausgefunden. With the infinitive marker zu, the form is herauszufinden, as in Es ist schwierig, herauszufinden, wer angerufen hat. The noun form das Herausfinden denotes the process of discovering.

Typical usages include herauszufinden, ob oder wie; etwas herausfinden; and related verbs such as feststellen or ermitteln. The choice of verb can shade meaning: herausfinden emphasizes the act of discovering; feststellen or ermitteln emphasize establishing a fact more formally. Examples include: Ich muss herausfinden, wer angerufen hat. Wir versuchen herauszufinden, wie viel das kostet. Das Herausfinden der Ursache dauerte länger als erwartet.