erschöpfen
Translation
to exhaust, to deplete, to wear out, to use up
Examples
Die lange Wanderung hat mich erschöpft.
The long hike has exhausted me.
Die natürlichen Ressourcen sind fast erschöpft.
The natural resources are almost depleted.
Das Thema ist damit erschöpft.
The topic is now exhausted.
Grammar Patterns
((j-n/et4)) to exhaust sb./sth. The journey completely exhausted them.
Similar Words
Synonyms: ermüden, auslaugen; Antonyms: sich erholen, stärken
Etymology
From 'er-' (prefix indicating completion) and 'schöpfen' (to scoop, draw water). It literally means to 'scoop out completely'.
Memory Tips
Imagine scooping all the water out of a well ('schöpfen') until it's completely empty ('er-'), which leaves you exhausted.