Exaggerate Meaning
/ɛɡˈzæd͡ʒ.ə.ɹeɪt/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
verbTo overstate, to describe more than the fact.
adjExaggerative; overblown.
Sentence Examples
It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of education.
Don't take it literally. He is inclined to exaggerate.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Don't ____ the size of the fish you caught.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Please don't ____ the truth we need an honest and accurate report of what happened.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Latin exaggerātus, perfect passive participle of exaggerō (“to heap up, increase, enlarge, magnify, amplify, exaggerate”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from ex- (“out, up”) + aggerō, aggerāre (“to heap up”), from agger (“a pile, heap, mound, dike, mole, pier, etc.”), from aggerō, aggerere (“to bear, carry to (some place), bring together”), from ad- (“to, toward”) + gerō (“to carry”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"These testosterone thumpers have repackaged and exaggerated the study, with a credulity born of zealotry, into articles with shitposty titles like “Trust The Science: Study Links Left-Wing Politics to Lower Testosterone,” casting it as hard proof of their hormonal theories of healthy politics."
— 2023 April 5, Mark Hay, “Does Testosterone Affect Your Politics?”, in VICE:
"And in general, if it is a natural feeling, let it be, but at normal, living levels, not too exaggerate."
— 1901, Valentin Matcas, The Human Addictions:
"Water was invading, like some loving arms, some protecting wings, but its love and care were too exaggerate, they were deadly."
— 2005, Daniel Marin, Megator, page 4:
"You will leave [the camp] and when confronted to the smallest inconvenience you will have again these reactions that, for me, are very exaggerate."
— 2012, Joy Damousi, Mariano Ben Plotkin, Psychoanalysis and Politics, page 202:
"From this comparison, it seems that the data in Table 7.7 are reasonable, while Ashbel's values are exaggerate."
— 2012, Yair Goldreich, The Climate of Israel: Observation, Research and Application, page 132:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Don't ____ the size of the fish you caught.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Please don't ____ the truth we need an honest and accurate report of what happened.