hype

1
[ hahyp ]
See synonyms for: hypehypedhyping on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),hyped, hyp·ing.
  1. to stimulate, excite, or agitate (usually followed by up): She was hyped up at the thought of owning her own car.

  2. to create interest in by flamboyant or dramatic methods; promote or publicize showily: a promoter who knows how to hype a prizefight.

  1. to intensify (advertising, promotion, or publicity) by ingenious or questionable claims, methods, etc. (usually followed by up).

  2. to trick; gull.

noun
  1. exaggerated publicity; hoopla.

  2. an ingenious or questionable claim, method, etc., used in advertising, promotion, or publicity to intensify the effect.

  1. a swindle, deception, or trick.

Origin of hype

1
An Americanism dating back to 1820–30, in sense “to trick, swindle,” of uncertain origin; subsequent senses perhaps by reanalysis as a shortening of hyperbole

Words Nearby hype

Other definitions for hype (2 of 2)

hype2
[ hahyp ]

nounSlang.
  1. Disparaging and Offensive. a person who is addicted to a drug, especially one who uses a hypodermic needle.

Origin of hype

2
First recorded in 1920–25; shortening of hypodermic; cf. hypo1

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use hype in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hype (1 of 2)

hype1

/ (haɪp) slang /


noun
  1. a hypodermic needle or injection

verb
  1. (intr usually foll by up) to inject oneself with a drug

  2. (tr) to stimulate artificially or excite

Origin of hype

1
C20: shortened from hypodermic

British Dictionary definitions for hype (2 of 2)

hype2

/ (haɪp) /


noun
  1. a deception or racket

  2. intensive or exaggerated publicity or sales promotion: media hype

  1. the person or thing so publicized

verb(tr)
  1. to market or promote (a product) using exaggerated or intensive publicity

  2. to falsify or rig (something)

  1. (in the pop-music business) to buy (copies of a particular record) in such quantity as to increase its ratings in the charts

Origin of hype

2
C20: of unknown origin

Derived forms of hype

  • hyper, noun
  • hyping, noun

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