hype

1 of 5

noun (1)

1
slang : a narcotics addict
2
slang : hypodermic

hype

2 of 5

verb (1)

hyped; hyping

transitive verb

1
: stimulate, enliven
usually used with up
hyping herself up for the game
2
hyped-up adjective

hype

3 of 5

verb (2)

hyped; hyping

transitive verb

1
2
: to promote or publicize extravagantly
hyping this fall's TV lineup

hype

4 of 5

noun (2)

1
2
: publicity
especially : promotional publicity of an extravagant or contrived kind
all the hype before the boxing match

hype

5 of 5

adjective

slang

Examples of hype in a Sentence

Adjective a couple of the tracks on the album feature some really hype vocals
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Biden’s State of the Union is likely to follow a long tradition of hyping emergencies to justify unprecedented spending. Amity Shlaes, National Review, 7 Mar. 2024 Federico came on in the 73rd minute and had chances to score against his parent club, before attempting to hype up the Mestalla crowd on Saturday. Patrick Sung, CNN, 5 Mar. 2024 Schiff’s controversial tactic of hyping Garvey appears to have been successful, helping propel the first-time candidate into first place in a field split by three Democratic members of Congress all running to fill the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s former seat. Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 The episode, which will air Thursday night on ABC, has prompted headlines and social media posts hyping the matchup as a battle of brains between Maryland and Virginia. Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 Because maintaining awards hype all season long can be difficult, many contenders opt for fall theatrical releases so their films stay fresh in voters’ minds. Conor Murray, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Don’t be tempted to follow someone who lacks common sense or hypes you up about something that can end in financial loss. Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2024 For weeks, Republicans had been hyping her chances, and the national press had been taking her seriously as a candidate, despite her inexperience and stiffness as a campaigner. Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 14 Feb. 2024 Musk hyped the release by posting a screenshot of the chatbot giving him a recipe for cocaine. Zoë Schiffer, WIRED, 14 Feb. 2024
Noun
Long-term restrictions force token holders to weather the hype and its aftermath and to realize value by contributing to productive growth. Chris Dixon, Fortune, 10 Mar. 2024 Again, your hype squad can give you a more personalized framework for this progression. Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 4 Mar. 2024 Sugano lived up to the hype, throwing seven shutout innings, absolutely dominating the BayStars. Helen Schulman, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2024 Much has been written about the jaw-dropping visuals inside the Sphere, and much of the imagery — including a deconstruction of the Las Vegas skyline — lives up to the hype. Michael Schneider, Variety, 2 Mar. 2024 Even when that hype is as unhealthy as a sugar high. Lachlan Cartwright, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2024 Bootcamp hype, and results, ran headlong into a very predictable brick wall of education reality and market forces. Derek Newton, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the abandonment, if confirmed, will breed plenty of schadenfreude: billions spent with little to show, all the while pivoting to a different breed of Silicon Valley hype. Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 28 Feb. 2024 Miami Marlins right-handed pitcher Eury Perez lived up to the hype during his rookie season. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 26 Feb. 2024
Adjective
Patrick Queen and Justin Madubuike looked like classic post-hype breakout candidates. Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 12 Sep. 2022 The post-hype candidate had twice as many targets as Rob Gronkowski (six to three) and a touchdown. Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Sep. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hype.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

by shortening & alteration from hypodermic

Verb (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1924, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1938, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

circa 1931, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1955, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1989, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hype was in 1924

Dictionary Entries Near hype

Cite this Entry

“Hype.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hype. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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