01
über ... hinweg
over / across
Expresses a duration of time or the bridging of a spatial distance.
example
Über die Jahre hinweg hat sich ihre Freundschaft vertieft.
Over the years, their friendship has deepened.
hinweg
away / over
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 04
Usage tips
Word structure
The adverb consists of 'hin' (movement away from the speaker) and 'weg' (away). It is often used as a postposition or as part of a separable verb to express overcoming something or distance.
EXAMPLE
Er schaute über die Menschenmenge hinweg zum Horizont.
He looked over the crowd toward the horizon.
Use with 'über'
In its spatial or temporal meaning, 'hinweg' often appears as a postposition with 'über' and an accusative object. The structure is: 'über [etwas/jemanden] hinweg' (over/across [something/someone]).
EXAMPLE
Wir sind über die alte Brücke hinweg gefahren.
We drove over the old bridge.
Fixed expression (ignore)
The expression 'sich über etwas hinwegsetzen' means to consciously ignore a rule or a wish. Pay attention to the reflexive pronoun 'sich' and the accusative after 'über'.
EXAMPLE
Sie setzte sich über die Bedenken ihrer Eltern hinweg und reiste allein.
She disregarded her parents' concerns and traveled alone.
Fixed expression (help)
The expression 'jemandem über etwas hinweghelfen' means to support someone during a difficult time. The person being helped is in the dative, and the difficulty is in the accusative after 'über'.
EXAMPLE
Seine Familie half ihm über den schweren Verlust hinweg.
His family helped him through the difficult loss.
Fixed expression (overlook)
The expression 'über etwas hinwegsehen' means to intentionally ignore a mistake. What is being ignored is in the accusative after 'über'.
EXAMPLE
Der Lehrer hat über den kleinen Fehler im Test hinweggesehen.
The teacher overlooked the small mistake in the test.
Compare with
hinweg vs über
over / about
'über' and 'hinweg' can both express that something bridges a distance or a period of time. 'über' is the normal preposition and comes directly before the noun, for example 'über die Straße' (across the street) or 'über den Sommer' (over the summer). 'hinweg' often appears together with 'über' in the form 'über ... hinweg'. This sounds stronger and emphasizes that something covers an entire distance or a longer period of time. For simple routes or short statements, 'über' is usually more natural. 'über ... hinweg' is more appropriate when you want to especially emphasize duration, distance, or a development.
hinweg
Über viele Jahre hinweg hat Maria ihre Freundin regelmäßig angerufen.
Over many years, Maria called her friend regularly.
über
Die Kinder laufen über die kleine Brücke zum Spielplatz.
The children run across the small bridge to the playground.
In real life
Loading video examples...