hype

[ hahyp ]

/ haɪp /

Informal.

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See synonyms for: hype / hyped / hyping on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), hyped, hyp·ing.

to stimulate, excite, or agitate (usually followed by up): She was hyped up at the thought of owning her own car.

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

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

to trick; gull.

noun

exaggerated publicity; hoopla.

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

a swindle, deception, or trick.

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Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of hype

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

Other definitions for hype (2 of 2)

hype²

[ hahyp ]

/ haɪp /

noun Slang.

a hypodermic needle.

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

Origin of hype

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hype in a sentence

The conversation’s been around in the industry for a couple of years, but it’s now becoming real and we’re moving from that hype stage into reality and making it available for our customers.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution has begun: Now’s the time to join|Jason Sparapani|October 15, 2020|MIT Technology Review
This meant that the kinds of films you might ordinarily only see at a film festival—those without distribution, or unknown actors, or simply no hype or marketing budget—were available to stream and take a risk on.
COVID could reinvent how we go to the movies|jakemeth|October 15, 2020|Fortune
For all the hype around esports, its hamstrung by underperforming revenues, a lack of standardization for commercial partners and losses that make it hard to invest in for growth.
‘The next billion-dollar sports franchise could be in esports’: Former Turner president David Levy on why his latest venture is in the burgeoning category|Seb Joseph|October 1, 2020|Digiday
Zora’s head of business development, Dee Goens, says Zora is primarily aimed at “hype beasts”—those consumers who are super fans of a given brand or creator.
Hype beasts, the ‘Yeezy’ problem, and $950 cassette tapes: How crypto startup Zora is helping musicians create new revenue streams|Jeff|September 27, 2020|Fortune

A woman whose life is full of substance, not hype, who builds bridges, not burns them.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing feels like millions of women have lost their bubbie|jakemeth|September 22, 2020|Fortune
There are a lot of remarkable things to explain, instead of hyping up a fear which is not well-grounded.
Sanjay Gupta, on the Ebola Front Lines|Tim Teeman|August 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In most battles, the rounds focus on battlers tearing each other down or hyping their own mastery of battle skills.
America’s Poets: Battle Rap Gets Real|Rich Goldstein|July 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the Pentagon is still hyping up the Syrian capabilities, McCain said, due to its desire to not intervene.
U.S. Intelligence Confirms Latest Israeli Strike Inside Syria|Josh Rogin, Eli Lake|July 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The industry itself is its own Flavor Flav, hyping us up for these yearly achievements.
Volkswagen’s Super Bowl Ad an Unfunny Slight to Culture|Pia Glenn|January 31, 2013|DAILY BEAST
“Western Media is Again Hyping the So-Called ‘China Hacking Threat’” screams one headline from the Shanghai Morning Post.
China a Suspect in Hacking Attack|Isaac Stone Fish|August 4, 2011|DAILY BEAST
In the ring, he excelled greatly at hyping, and if this chanced to miss, generally followed up with the "ham."
Wrestling and Wrestlers:|Jacob Robinson

British Dictionary definitions for hype (1 of 2)

hype¹

/ (haɪp) slang /

noun

a hypodermic needle or injection

verb

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

(tr) to stimulate artificially or excite

Word Origin for hype

C20: shortened from hypodermic

British Dictionary definitions for hype (2 of 2)

hype²

/ (haɪp) /

noun

a deception or racket

intensive or exaggerated publicity or sales promotionmedia hype

the person or thing so publicized

verb (tr)

to market or promote (a product) using exaggerated or intensive publicity

to falsify or rig (something)

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

Derived forms of hype

hyper, nounhyping, noun

Word Origin for hype

C20: of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

hype

Origin of hype

Other definitions for hype (2 of 2)

Origin of hype

Words related to hype

How to use hype in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for hype (1 of 2)

Word Origin for hype

British Dictionary definitions for hype (2 of 2)

Derived forms of hype

Word Origin for hype