Exaggerate
/ɪɡˈzædʒ.ə.reɪt/noun
To represent something as being larger, greater, better, or worse than it really is.
Did you know?The roots of "exaggerate" hint at a powerful influence over perception, as it literally means to "add to the weight of" something, implying a manipulation of reality.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
exaggerare
“To heap up, to increase, or to elevate.”
Late Latin
Late Latin
exaggeratus
“Raised high, made larger.”
Old French
Old French
exagérer
“To enlarge, to amplify.”
Middle English
Middle English
exaggeraten
“To increase or magnify.”
Modern English
English
exaggerate
“To overstate or embellish a claim or description.”