nachgekommen

Nachgekommen is the past participle of the German verb nachkommen, formed from the prefix nach- and the verb kommen. The prefix indicates a sense of following in time or in response to something, so nachkommen is used for both following a sequence and fulfilling a request or expectation. Etymologically, it means to come after or to come in reply.

In usage, nachkommen has two main senses. First, to come after or follow in time or sequence, as in meeting a schedule or next in line. Second, to comply with or fulfill a request, instruction, or expectation, often with a dative object: someone nachkommt akts someone’s wish or requirements. The verb is separable in the present tense (er kommt dem Wunsch nach) and forms the perfect tense with sein: er ist dem Wunsch nachgekommen.

Common collocations include dem Wunsch nachkommen, den Erwartungen nachkommen, den Anforderungen nachkommen, and dem Beispiel nachkommen. The phrase nicht nachkommen means to fail to follow or to not meet a demand or expectation. As a versatile verbal form, nachgekommen regularly appears in formal and written German when describing adherence to requests, rules, or standards, as well as in expressions about following something in a sequence or timeline.

See also: related verbs such as erfüllen (to fulfill), entsprechen (to correspond to), folgen (to follow) for broader context on compliance and sequence.