hyperbole

[ hahy-pur-buh-lee ]
/ haɪˈpɜr bə li /

noun Rhetoric.

obvious and intentional exaggeration.
an extravagant statement or figure of speech not intended to be taken literally, as “to wait an eternity.”
Compare litotes.

Origin of hyperbole

1520–30; < Greek hyperbolḗ excess, exaggeration, throwing beyond, equivalent to hyper- hyper- + bolḗ throw

Example sentences from the Web for hyperbole

British Dictionary definitions for hyperbole

hyperbole
/ (haɪˈpɜːbəlɪ) /

noun

a deliberate exaggeration used for effect he embraced her a thousand times

Derived forms of hyperbole

hyperbolism, noun

Word Origin for hyperbole

C16: from Greek: from hyper- + bolē a throw, from ballein to throw

Cultural definitions for hyperbole

hyperbole
[ (heye-pur-buh-lee) ]

An exaggerated, extravagant expression. It is hyperbole to say, “I'd give my whole fortune for a bowl of bean soup.”