# exaggerate

/ɪɡˈzædʒɝˌeɪt/ (US) · /ɛɡzˈædʒəɹˌeɪt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/exaggerate
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

to describe something as bigger, better, or worse than it really is. You do this to make a story more exciting or to make a point more strongly.

For teachers: to represent something as being larger, greater, better, or worse than it is in reality. Transitive — requires a direct object.

## Examples

- He tends to exaggerate how much money he makes.
- The newspaper was accused of trying to exaggerate the danger of the storm to sell more copies.
- While the witness did not lie about the events, the prosecutor argued that she chose to exaggerate the defendant's level of aggression to influence the jury.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He exaggerated about his success." but "He exaggerated his success." — Exaggerate is a transitive verb; it takes a direct object and does not require the preposition 'about'.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and takes a direct object. It is often used in the passive voice when discussing claims or reports.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.