exaggerate
ehg-ZAJ-uh-rayt
Exaggerate (verb) means to make something sound bigger, worse, or more dramatic than it really is. Example: “He exaggerated how long the queue was, just to make a point.”
verb
1
To make something sound bigger, worse, or more dramatic than it really is.
"He exaggerated how long the queue was, just to make a point."
"Don't exaggerate your symptoms to the doctor — just describe them plainly."
How to use exaggerate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo stretch the truth by making something seem bigger or more extreme than it is.
Common mistake
Not the same as lying outright — exaggerating usually starts from something true and inflates it.
Common pairings
exaggerate a claim
tend to exaggerate
wildly exaggerate
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- exaggerates
- Past tense
- exaggerated
- Comparative
- more exaggerate
- Superlative
- most exaggerate
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ how long the queue was, just to make a point.
Etymology
From Latin exaggerare, "to heap up" or "pile high" — from ex- ("out, up") + aggerare ("to heap"), from agger ("a mound").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for exaggerate
See all rhymes for exaggerate →Frequently asked questions
What does “exaggerate” mean?
The word “exaggerate” means to make something sound bigger, worse, or more dramatic than it really is. In plain terms, to stretch the truth by making something seem bigger or more extreme than it is.
How do you pronounce “exaggerate”?
“Exaggerate” is pronounced ehg-ZAJ-uh-rayt (/ɛɡˈzæd͡ʒ.ə.ɹeɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “exaggerate” in a sentence?
Here is “exaggerate” used in a sentence: “He exaggerated how long the queue was, just to make a point.”
What is the opposite of “exaggerate”?
The opposite of “exaggerate” — its antonyms — is trivialize.
What part of speech is “exaggerate”?
“Exaggerate” is a verb.
Where does the word “exaggerate” come from?
The word “exaggerate” comes from Latin. From Latin exaggerare, "to heap up" or "pile high" — from ex- ("out, up") + aggerare ("to heap"), from agger ("a mound").
Is “exaggerate” a common word?
“Exaggerate” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
