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# hyperbole

noun (hyperbole, uncountable; a hyperbole, hyperboles)

«hyperbole» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

Hyperbole is a huge exaggeration that is not meant to be taken literally, used to make a point or be funny, like «I've told you a million times». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hyperbole/#m1)

### In the lessons

In English lessons, hyperbole is a figure of speech, along with simile and metaphor. Writers use it for humour, drama or strong feeling. In everyday speech it is everywhere: «I'm starving», «this bag weighs a ton». In adverts and politics, hyperbole can make things sound better than they are, so readers should check facts.

### Examples

- «I'm so hungry I could eat a horse» is hyperbole. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hyperbole/#x1)
- «I've told you a million times» is an example of hyperbole. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hyperbole/#x2)
- The poet used hyperbole to show how much she loved him. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hyperbole/#x3)
- Find the hyperbole in the paragraph. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hyperbole/#x4)
- The advert's claim to be «the best in the universe» is hyperbole. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hyperbole/#x5)
- «This bag weighs a ton!» she said, using hyperbole. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hyperbole/#x6)

### Note

Say «hy-PER-bo-lee», four syllables — not «hyper-bowl». Often uncountable; «a hyperbole» for one example. Adjective: hyperbolic. In maths, «hyperbola» is a different word: a type of curve.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «hyperbole» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/H/hyperbole/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«hyperbole» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/hyperbole.html) on Mova free.