hype

hype — noun

1. the kind of loud, excited attention that a product, event, or person receives in

1.nounB1
Definition

the kind of loud, excited attention that a product, event, or person receives in the media or online, often because companies or fans are making it seem more important or exciting than it really is.

Example

Despite the media hype before the film's release, the story was disappointing for most viewers.

collocation: media hype

Adisa's new restaurant got a lot of hype on social media even before it opened its doors.

Common collocations
  • media hype
  • marketing hype
  • promotional hype
  • all the hype
  • live up to the hype
  • generate hype
  • create hype
  • build hype
  • hype machine
  • hype train
Synonyms
  • publicity

    neutral term; hype implies exaggeration

  • buzz

    more informal, suggests word-of-mouth excitement

  • promotion

    official marketing activity; hype can be organic or manufactured

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

the hype (around/about something)

live up to the hype

all the hype

Usage Note

Often carries a critical tone — when you call something 'hype,' you are suggesting the attention is exaggerated or not fully deserved.

Common Mistakes

There was a hype about the new movie.
There was a lot of hype about the new movie.
'hype' is uncountable; do not use 'a hype.'
The hype was real when I saw the product.
The product lived up to the hype when I saw it.
'the hype was real' is informal slang; use 'live up to the hype' for neutral contexts.

hype — verb

hype — adjective

Word family

  • hyped
    adjectiveB1
  • hyper
    adjective (informal)B2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Publicity is the most neutral term — it simply means public attention or media coverage, without implying anything about whether it is deserved. Hype, by contrast, carries a strong suggestion that the attention is excessive or misleading. Buzz is more informal and focuses on word-of-mouth excitement among ordinary people rather than official marketing efforts. Promotion refers specifically to the deliberate advertising and marketing activities undertaken by a company or organization. Fanfare suggests a noisy, showy display of excitement, often involving official ceremonies or announcements. For example: 'The film received lots of publicity before release' is factual. 'The film was all hype' is critical. 'There was a lot of buzz on social media' suggests organic chatter. 'The publisher ran a huge promotion' describes the marketing campaign.

publicity ↗buzz ↗promotion ↗fanfare

Common collocations

Nouns

  • hype machine
  • hype train
  • hype cycle
  • hype culture

Adverbs

  • heavily hyped
  • widely hyped
  • constantly hyped
  • over-hyped

Phrases

  • all the hype
  • so much hype
  • live up to the hype
  • believe the hype

Prepositions

  • hype about
  • hype around
  • hype over

Etymology

Greek (hyperbolē)Latin (hyperbole)English

The word 'hype' first appeared in American English in the early 1900s, most likely as a shortened form of 'hyperbole' (exaggerated statements). It was originally used in slang among carnival and circus workers, who would 'hype' a show to attract customers. By the 1960s it entered mainstream media vocabulary, and in the 1990s it gained an additional slang adjective use meaning 'excellent.'