hype

1 of 5

noun (1)

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

hype

2 of 5

verb (1)

hyped; hyping

transitive verb

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

hype

3 of 5

verb (2)

hyped; hyping

transitive verb

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

hype

4 of 5

noun (2)

1
slang : a narcotics addict
2
slang : hypodermic

hype

5 of 5

adjective

slang

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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Despite the hype, BBC reported on Oct. 24 that this doesn't mean members of the public will be able to get married there. Janine Henni, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024 International auto festivals were meant to be a thing of the past and the biennial Paris Car Show gave Europe’s automakers the chance for some hype and bluster. Neil Winton, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
Verb
Whenever the teams played, Gerlach always brought the energy, running up to the gate in front of the student section to hype up the crowd. Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 19 Oct. 2024 Matthew Lillard is hyping up the Five Nights at Freddy’s sequel and teasing that he’s already read the script. Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 7 Oct. 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 See all Example Sentences for hype 

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

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 8 Nov. 2024.

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