Do you have dreams of being the greatest writer to ever grace the planet? Good writers know when to exaggerate, and when to lay low with their prose. This is why it’s important to understand what hyperbole is, and how and when to use it, or when to avoid it. (And after you read this article, you’ll be able to identify the example of hyperbole hidden in that first sentence!) Read on to learn about hyperbole’s meaning and see examples.
Examples of hyperbole with meaning
First, let’s define hyperbole
Hyperbole can be an effective tool, or a writer’s worst enemy if overused (another example of hyperbole was hidden in that sentence!). Read on to understand hyperbole’s meaning and definition, and see hyperbole examples.
HYPERBOLE DEFINITION
What is a hyperbole?
A hyperbole is actually pretty easy to understand, and you probably hear them all the time! Hyperbole is when something is over-exaggerated. The exaggeration isn’t meant to be taken literally, but it does pack on the drama, and that makes the writing more fun to read. There are plenty of common phrases used in everyday conversation that are hyperboles, and you’ve likely heard many of these before. What is an example of a hyperbole like this?
Examples of hyperbole
Hyperbole Examples
Common hyperbole examples in everyday speech:
- “I’m starving!”
- “I have a million things to do!”
- “Mile-high ice cream cones.”
- “This bag weighs a ton.”
- “That lasted forever.”
- “I’ve seen it a thousand times.”
- “We have enough food to feed an army.”
All of these phrases are exaggerations to emphasize a point. These hyperbole examples are things you’ve probably heard before from just having conversations, but hyperbole is also used in literature as a way to enhance an author’s prose. Here are some famous examples of hyperbole from literature:
Common hyperbole examples in literature:
- “I had to wait in the station for ten days—an eternity.” - “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad
- “Molasses buckets appeared from nowhere, and the ceiling danced with metallic light.” “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
- "Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand?" “MacBeth” by William Shakespeare
There are also many poems containing hyperbole, since poems often use exaggerated language to evoke emotion or create interesting imagery, and this often requires flowery or over-the-top language. Here are some hyperbole examples from poems:
- “I will love thee still, my dear, / Till a' the seas gang dry.” “A Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns
- “I'll love you till the ocean / Is folded and hung up to dry.” “As I Walked Out One Evening” by W.H. Auden
- Referencing the god Mars crying out as loudly as “nine or ten thousand men!” “The Iliad” by Homer
Did You Know?
Hyperbolus was a Greek politician way back in the 5th century B.C.E. Hyperbolus was known to talk people's ears off (notice the hyperbole example there?), and many have assumed the word "hyperbole" is derived from his name. However, even though the word does come from the Greek verb hyperballein, meaning “to exceed,” it's not an homage to Hyperbolus. Sorry, Hyperbolus!
Examples of a hyperbole
How writers use hyperbole
Writers can harness the power of hyperboles to make their writing really sing. A good writer can be playful with hyperbole, and use exaggeration to add spice to their scripts or prose. After all, saying someone’s eyes are “pretty” is far less interesting than going full hyperbole, as Shakespeare did in this famous hyperbole example from “Romeo & Juliet.” In the play, Shakespeare wrote that Juliet’s eyes were: “Two of the fairest stars in all of heaven.” See how much more exciting that is to read? This is why writers often use hyperbole to give their work pizzazz.
Hyperbole Examples
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Using hyperbole in prose
Now that you’ve seen how writers use hyperbole, and examples for hyperbole, you might be wondering about other literary devices you can use in your prose. But what is prose, and how is it used in writing? Read on to learn all about prose.
