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hype up

B2 informal separable transitive

To promote something with great enthusiasm and exaggeration, or to make someone very excited or agitated.

In plain English

To make people very excited about something, sometimes more than it deserves.

What does "hype up" mean?

3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

1 B2 idiomatic informal

To promote or publicize something with exaggerated enthusiasm.

"The studio hyped up the film for months before it was released."

It's been hyped up as the game of the century.

— Common sports journalism phrasing, widely used in British and American press
separable
2 B2 idiomatic informal

To make someone very excited, agitated, or energized.

"Don't give the kids sugar before bed — it'll hype them up completely."

separable
3 B1 idiomatic informal

To become or feel intensely excited or over-stimulated (often reflexive or adjectival: 'hyped up').

"He was so hyped up before the competition that he couldn't sleep."

separable
Usage tip

Very common in media, advertising, and entertainment contexts. 'Hyped up' as an adjective ('I was so hyped up') is also extremely common. Can have a slightly negative connotation — implying the excitement is overblown.

Words that pair with "hype up"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

crowd audience product game event film release

How to conjugate "hype up"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

Base
hype up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
hypes up
he/she/it
Past simple
hyped up
yesterday
Past participle
hyped up
have + pp
-ing form
hyping up
continuous

Hear "hype up" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "hype up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Keep exploring

Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.