Hype — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb adjective /ˈhīp/

Meaning & Definition of Hype

Hype (noun)

  1. publicity; especially, promotional publicity of an extravagant or contrived kind
  2. deception, put-on
  3. a narcotics addict
  4. hypodermic

Hype (verb)

  1. to promote or publicize extravagantly
  2. put on, deceive
  3. stimulate, enliven —usually used with up
  4. increase

Hype (adjective)

  1. excellent, cool

Hype (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to provide publicity for

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

    similar: ballyhoo, boost, pitch, plug, promote, publicize, talk up, tout, beat the drum (for)
    related: advertise, bark, merchandise, sell, push, acclaim, hail, laud, praise, endorse, plump (for), plunk (for), recommend, review, announce, broadcast, publish

  2. to make greater in size, amount, or number

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

    similar: accelerate, add (to), aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, build up, compound, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, increase, multiply, pump up, raise, stoke, supersize, swell, up
    related: boom, jump, skyrocket, spike, bump (up), ratchet (up), blow up, dilate, distend, inflate, draw out, elongate, flesh (out), lengthen, prolong, protract, stretch, develop, enhance, heighten, intensify, magnify, complement, supplement, beef (up), reinforce, strengthen, maximize, accumulate, amass, collect, follow up, parlay
    opposite: abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, minify, reduce, subtract (from)
    near: abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten, compress, condense, constrict, contract, cut back, retrench

Hype (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. information released to the media that is designed to gain public attention or support for a person, business, or cause

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

    similar: ballyhoo, publicity, puffery
    related: ad, advertisement, commercial, message, plug, promotion, spot, word, banner, bill, billboard, placard, poster, sign, advertising, marketing, propaganda, pronouncement, publication, release, broadcast, bulletin, dispatch, newscast, report, story, ink (slang), testimonial, write-up

  2. a person who regularly uses drugs especially illegally

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

    similar: addict, dopehead, doper, druggie, fiend, freak (slang), head, hophead (slang), junkie, stoner, user
    related: acidhead, cokehead, crackhead, pothead, speed freak, burnout
    opposite: nonaddict, nonuser

  3. a slender hollow instrument by which material is put into or taken from the body through the skin

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

    similar: hypodermic, hypodermic needle, hypodermic syringe, needle, syringe

Hype (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. of the very best kind

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

    similar: A-OK, A1, awesome, bang-up, banner, beautiful, blue-chip, blue-ribbon, boffo, bonny (chiefly British), boss (slang), brag, brave, bully, bumper, capital, choice, classic, cool (slang), corking, crackerjack, cracking, dandy, divine, dope (slang), down (slang), dynamite, excellent, fab, fabulous, famous, fantabulous (slang), fantastic, fine, first-class, first-rate, first-string, five-star, four-star, frontline, gangbusters, gilt-edged, gone (slang), grand, great, groovy, heavenly, high-class, hot, immense, jim-dandy, keen, lovely, marvelous, mean, neat, nifty, noble, number one, numero uno, out-of-sight (slang), par excellence, peachy, peachy keen, phat (slang), prime, primo (slang), prize, prizewinning, quality, radical (slang), righteous (slang), sensational, slick, splendid, stellar, sterling, superb, superior, superlative, supernal, swell, terrific, tip-top, top, top-notch, top-of-the-line, top-shelf, topflight, topping (chiefly British), unsurpassed, wizard (chiefly British), wonderful, out of this world, too much
    related: acceptable, adequate, all right, decent, good, OK, passable, satisfactory, tolerable, better, exceptional, fancy, high-grade, high-test, premium, select, special, superfine, classical, standard, traditional
    opposite: atrocious, awful, execrable, lousy, pathetic, poor, rotten, terrible, vile, wretched
    near: bad, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unsatisfactory, mediocre, middling, second-class, second-rate

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Hype

The most common words with a similar meaning to Hype:

Slang: freak, hophead, boss, cool, dope, down, fantabulous, gone, out-of-sight, phat, primo, radical
Chiefly British: bonny, topping, wizard
ballyhoo, boost, pitch, plug, promote, publicize, talk up, tout, beat the drum (for), accelerate, add (to), aggrandize, amplify, augment, build up, compound, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, increase, multiply, pump up, raise, stoke, supersize, swell, up, publicity, puffery, addict, dopehead, doper, druggie, fiend, head, junkie, stoner, user, hypodermic

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Hype

Words with the opposite meaning of Hype:

abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, minify, reduce, subtract (from), nonaddict, nonuser, atrocious, awful, execrable, lousy, pathetic, poor, rotten, terrible, vile, wretched

Related Words for Hype

advertise, bark, merchandise, sell, push, acclaim, hail, laud, praise, endorse, plump (for), plunk (for), recommend, review, announce, broadcast, publish, boom, jump, skyrocket, spike, bump (up), ratchet (up), blow up, dilate, distend, inflate, draw out, elongate, flesh (out)

Near Antonyms of Hype

abbreviate, abridge, curtail, shorten, compress, condense, constrict, contract, cut back, retrench, bad, inferior, low-grade, substandard, unsatisfactory, mediocre, middling, second-class, second-rate

Word Forms of Hype

Inflections: hyped, hyping

Derived words: hyped-up (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Hype

origin unknown

First known use: 1955

Frequently Asked Questions about Hype

What does "Hype" mean?

"Hype" means publicity; especially, promotional publicity of an extravagant or contrived kind. As an a noun, a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: publicity; especially, promotional publicity of an extravagant or contrived kind. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Hype"?

Other words for "Hype" include ballyhoo, boost, pitch, plug, promote, publicize, talk up and tout. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Hype" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Hype"?

There are 243 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Hype". Common alternatives include ballyhoo, boost, pitch, plug, promote, publicize, talk up, tout, beat the drum (for) and accelerate.

What is a slang word for "Hype"?

Slang words for "Hype" include freak, hophead, boss, cool, dope and down.

What is the opposite of "Hype"?

Antonyms of "Hype" include abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen and lower. Near antonyms include abbreviate, abridge, curtail and shorten.

How do you use "Hype" in a sentence?

Examples of "Hype" in a sentence: "the auto company has been hyping its forthcoming line of hybrids for almost a year now"; "the TV writers tried to hype interest in the fading soap opera with flashy new plotlines"; "the prelaunch hype for the new cell phone translated into phenomenal sales numbers on release day".

Is "Hype" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Hype" can be used as a noun, a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Hype"?

"Hype" is pronounced /ˈhīp/.