hype

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈhīp 

1

: publicity

especially : promotional publicity of an extravagant or contrived kind

all the hype before the boxing match

2

: deception, put-on

hype

2 of 5

verb (1)

hyped; hyping

transitive verb

1

: to promote or publicize extravagantly

hyping this fall's TV lineup

2

: put on, deceive

hype

3 of 5

verb (2)

hyped; hyping

transitive verb

1

: stimulate, enliven

—usually used with up

hyping herself up for the game

2

: increase

hyped-up

ˈhīpt-ˈəp 

adjective

hype

4 of 5

noun (2)

1

slang : a narcotics addict

2

slang : hypodermic

hype

5 of 5

adjective

slang

: excellent, cool

Synonyms of hype

Noun (1)

• publicity
• advertisement
• advertising
• ad
• message
• commercial
• poster
• puffery

Verb (1)

• promote
• sell

Verb (2)

• increase
• boost
• accelerate
• expand
• augment

Noun (2)

• user
• addict

Adjective

• great
• excellent
• awesome
• wonderful
• terrific
• fantastic
• stellar
• superb
• prime
• fabulous
• lovely
• beautiful
• quality
• marvelous
• hot
• sensational
• fine

Examples of hype in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the prelaunch hype for the new cell phone translated into phenomenal sales numbers on release day

Verb (1)

the auto company has been hyping its forthcoming line of hybrids for almost a year now

Verb (2)

the TV writers tried to hype interest in the fading soap opera with flashy new plotlines

Noun (2)

a derelict building that's now a shooting gallery for heroin hypes

scattered inside the abandoned building were hypes and other signs of drug use

Adjective

a couple of the tracks on the album feature some really hype vocals

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Since his appointment as creative director of Diesel in 2020, Martens has injected fresh energy and catapulted the brand back on the hype radar, relaunching the pop culture relevancy of the denim label founded by Renzo Rosso in 1978. — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2026

Hope produces hype But these tendencies leave us open to exploitation by companies that want our money. — Jonathan Fahey, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Verb

The staff started performing this ritual in the early days of the show to hype Hudson up for each taping. — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026

Jeffrey Wright appears in a 2-minute short that evokes the sport’s deep roots in hyping the contest between the Denver Outlaws and the Philadelphia Waterdogs. — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026

Adjective

Also, the various injuries to Orioles hitters have Coby Mayo as a potential post-hype sleeper and Blaze Alexander as a middle infield option. — Jake Ciely, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026

Patrick Queen and Justin Madubuike looked like classic post-hype breakout candidates. — Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 12 Sep. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

origin unknown

Noun (2)

by shortening & alteration from hypodermic

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1955, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb (1)

circa 1931, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb (2)

1938, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1924, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1988, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hype

• gripe
• lipe
• pipe
• ripe
• sipe
• skype
• snipe
• stipe
• stripe
• strype
• swipe
• tripe