hype

¹

[ hahyp ]

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.

3. to intensify (advertising, promotion, or publicity) by ingenious or questionable claims, methods, etc. (usually followed by up ).
4. 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.
3. a swindle, deception, or trick.

hype

²

[ hahyp ]

noun

, Slang.

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

hype

¹

/ haɪp /

noun

1. a deception or racket
2. intensive or exaggerated publicity or sales promotion

   media hype

3. the person or thing so publicized

verb

1. to market or promote (a product) using exaggerated or intensive publicity
2. to falsify or rig (something)
3. (in the pop-music business) to buy (copies of a particular record) in such quantity as to increase its ratings in the charts

hype

²

/ haɪp /

noun

1. a hypodermic needle or injection

verb

1. intrusually foll byup to inject oneself with a drug
2. tr to stimulate artificially or excite

Derived Forms

• ˈhyper, noun
• ˈhyping, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of hype¹

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

Origin of hype²

First recorded in 1920–25; shortening of hypodermic; hypo ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of hype¹

C20: of unknown origin

Origin of hype²

C20: shortened from hypodermic

Example Sentences

The move comes at a time when hype around medical AI is at a peak, with inflated and unverified claims about the effectiveness of certain tools threatening to undermine people’s trust in AI overall.

From MIT Technology Review

That could make it tough for the Browns, even with an additional playoff slot in the AFC — although Cleveland’s talent looks better on paper than it did last year, despite the relative reduction in hype.

From FiveThirtyEight

Stock splits tend to draw attention to companies that conduct them—and increased hype can translate into more stock sales.

From Fortune

It seems as if just about everyone is getting into the SPAC hype.

From Fortune

Separately, here’s a spot of Friday feedback, regarding my essay yesterday about the hype around 5G and its geopolitical importance.

From Fortune

For OK Go the music video is medium for personal creativity, hype, and branding.

From The Daily Beast

His stories about his tenure in Washington hype his success in fixing housing problems in “inner cities.”

From The Daily Beast

In short, my $18-plus-cost-of-replacement-filters Brita water system may not live up to the hype.

From The Daily Beast

But as the hype surrounding the movie heightens, many are curious about the writer behind the story.

From The Daily Beast

These are the standard selling points of the craft-distilling movement, with its locavore lingo, terroir talk, and handmade hype.

From The Daily Beast

To bear the victor's hard commands, or bring The weight of waters from Hype'ria's spring.

From Project Gutenberg

But let us hype they distributed some of their superfluous coin among these hapless exiles to purchase food and a night's lodging.

From Project Gutenberg

It has to be withheld from hype-trainees, otherwise they might deliberately flunk their course.

From Project Gutenberg

I saw images of the ship riding along beside me, out there in the hype.

From Project Gutenberg

What should be held true – the hype or the dismal statistics?

From Project Gutenberg