hype

¹

[hahyp]

verb (used with object)

hyped, hyping 

1. to stimulate, excite, or agitate (usually followed byup ).

   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 byup ).

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. to inject oneself with a drug

2. (tr) to stimulate artificially or excite

Other Word Forms

• hyper noun
• hyping 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

He can smell hype at a thousand paces.

From BBC

The boxers are already in hype mode as well, as evidenced by their comments in the press release announcing the event.

From Los Angeles Times

They're 'America's Team' in terms of franchise value and nationally televised games, but the Cowboys haven't really matched that hype in years, and have just traded away one of their two best players.

From BBC

Maybe, just maybe, that hype could even convince studios to keep these movies coming to theaters first, and save the slop for the streamers.

From Salon

Beyond the hype and shiny new weaponry, what did we learn?

From BBC

Related Words

• advertise 
• announce 
• boost 
• broadcast 
• pitch 
• promote 
• promulgate 
• tout 
• trumpet