Hyperbole — Definition and Examples

Written by

Daniel Bal

February 13, 2024

Edited by

Courtney Adamo

Fact-checked by

Paul Mazzola

What is a hyperbole?

A hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses extreme exaggeration for emphasis. Also called an overstatement, hyperboles are technically inaccurate, but their function is not to deceive; instead, their purpose as a rhetorical device is to emphasize.

Considering the following example of hyperbole:

Through the use of the extravagant exaggeration "forever," the speaker/writer accentuates that the assignment took an incredibly long time to finish; they are not trying to be misleading.

The etymology of the word hyperbole comes from a Greek word (by way of Latin) meaning “excess.”

Hyperbole examples

The following examples illustrate the use of hyperboles or hyperbolic statements:

Literature

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: "People moved slowly then. There was no hurry, for there was nowhere to go, nothing to buy it with, nothing to see outside the boundaries of Maycomb County."

• "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe: "I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily — how calmly I can tell you the whole story."

• Old Times on the Mississippi by Mark Twain: "I was helpless. I did not know what in the world to do. I was quaking from head to foot, and could have hung my hat on my eyes, they stuck out so far."

Poetry

• "Spaghetti" by Shel Silverstein: "Spaghetti, spaghetti, all over the place, / Up to my elbows – up to my face."

• "Acquainted with the Night" by Robert Frost: "I have been one acquainted with the night. / I have walked out in rain -- and back in rain. / I have outwalked the furthest city light."

• I Carry Your Heart with Me" by E.E. Cummings: "i carry your heart with me(i carry it in / my heart)i am never without it(anywhere / i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done by only me is your doing,my darling)"

Speeches

• John F. Kennedy's 1962 Nobel Prize Dinner Speech: "I want to tell you how welcome you are to the White House. I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone."

• Lou Gehrig: "For the past two weeks you have been reading about a bad break. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth."

Examples of hyperbole can also be found in tall tales and folk tales, ancient Greek and Roman mythology, and modern fairy tales.

Hyperboles are not solely used in the humanities, as indicated by the following examples:

Everyday speech

• These moving boxes weigh a ton.

• Yesterday was the worst day of my life.

• She asked a million questions.

Movies

• Toy Story: "To infinity and beyond."

• Elf: "Congratulations! World's best cup of coffee! Great job, everybody!"

• Titanic: "I'm the king of the world!"

Songs

• "You Belong with Me" by Taylor Swift: "You’ve got a smile that could light up this whole town."

• "We Are Young" by fun.: "Tonight, we are young. So, let’s set the world on fire. We can burn brighter than the sun."

• "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles: "Video killed the radio star. In my mind and in my car. We can't rewind, we've gone too far."

Hyperbole vs. metaphors and similes

Hyperboles often employ the use of a metaphor or simile to enhance the exaggeration by comparing two objects, ideas, etc., that are not alike.

Here is an example:

• Hyperbole: Emphasizes the annoyance of the sound

• Simile: Compares the sound of the alarm to scratching a chalkboard

The following chart outlines the function of each of these devices: