Verb

hervor|ragen

to stand out, to excel, to protrude, to jut out

Der Felsen ragt aus dem Wasser hervor.

The rock juts out from the water.

Sie ragt durch ihr Talent hervor.

She stands out because of her talent.

((from sth.)) to protrude from sth. The tower stands out from the old town.

((through sth.)) to excel through sth. He excels through his intelligence.

sich auszeichnen (to distinguish oneself), herausstechen (to stand out)

From the prefix 'hervor-' (forth, out) and the verb 'ragen' (to tower, project). It literally means 'to project forth'.

Picture a skyscraper 'towering' ('ragen') 'forth' ('hervor') from the city skyline. This helps connect the idea of physically sticking out with figuratively excelling.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.