hyperbole

UK: /haɪˈpɜː^rbəli/ US: /haɪˈpɝbəli/ ,(hī pûr′bə lē)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

hy•per•bo•le /haɪˈpɜrbəli/   n. [uncountable]

1. Rhetoric obvious and intentional exaggeration:
   a campaign full of hyperbole; an example of hyperbole, such as "to wait an eternity.''

hy•per•bol•ic /ˌhaɪpɚˈbɑlɪk/  adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

hy•per•bo•le  (hī pûr′bə lē), n. [Rhet.]

1. Rhetoric obvious and intentional exaggeration.
2. Rhetoric an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as "to wait an eternity.'' Cf. litotes.

• Greek hyperbolé̄ excess, exaggeration, throwing beyond, equivalent. to hyper- hyper- + bolé̄ throw
• 1520–30

Synonyms

• 2. overstatement.

Antonyms

• 2. understatement.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

hyperbole / haɪˈpɜːbəlɪ/ noun

1. a deliberate exaggeration used for effect: he embraced her a thousand times

Etymology: 16th Century: from Greek: from hyper- + bolē a throw, from ballein to throw

hyˈperbolism noun