hochgewachsen

hochgewachsen is a German adjective describing someone or something that has grown tall or matured to a considerable height. It is formed from the components hoch (high, tall) and gewachsen (grown), with gewachsen functioning as a past participle used as an adjective.

The term is used for people as well as plants, with a focus on noticeable height relative to age or species norms. In people, it often conveys a sense of vigor or maturity in stature, sometimes implying that growth occurred swiftly or beyond what was typical for the cohort. In plant contexts, it can describe individuals specimens that have reached substantial height, though in horticultural or technical writing other terms might be preferred depending on the precision required.

Grammatically, hochgewachsen can be used attributively and predicatively. Attributive: ein hochgewachsener Mann; predicative: Er ist hochgewachsen. The feminine form is hochgewachsene (eine hochgewachsene Frau), and neuter is hochgewachsenes (ein hochgewachsenes Kind). The exact endings follow standard German adjective declension rules.

Usage notes: the expression carries a neutral to positive connotation, emphasizing stature and vitality. It appears more frequently in descriptive prose or literary contexts than in tightly technical language. As a fixed compound, it is generally confident and non-technical, suitable for biographies, character descriptions, or landscape/nature writing.

Examples:

- Er ist in wenigen Monaten hochgewachsen.

- Die hochgewachsene Erscheinung der Tänzerin zog alle Blicke auf sich.

- Hochgewachsene Bäume ragen über das Gelände hinaus.

---