marathon

noun

mar·​a·​thon ˈmer-ə-ˌthän 

ˈma-rə-

often attributive

1

: a footrace run on an open course usually of 26 miles 385 yards (42.2 kilometers)

broadly : a long-distance race

2

a

: an endurance contest

b

: something (such as an event, activity, or session) characterized by great length or concentrated effort

Examples of marathon in a Sentence

We watched a marathon of our favorite movies.

Recent Examples on the Web

Sometimes, the person claims the best gel for a half marathon is, well, absolutely none at all, or that no athlete needs calories during training. —Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 28 Jan. 2025

The marathon performance, which is set to take place over the course of 22 hours, will be held at London's Southbank Centre on April 24. —Sabienna Bowman, People.com, 27 Jan. 2025

Of course, this is a marathon, not a sprint, and there will be no definitive winner for a while. —Luis E. Romero, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025

But is this the beginning of a MAGA marathon or an early sprint before the chance of a changing tide in the 2026 midterm elections? —Amanda Luberto, The Arizona Republic, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Marathon, Greece, site of a victory of Greeks over Persians in 490 b.c., the news of which was carried to Athens by a long-distance runner

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing marathon

• half-marathon

Kids Definition

marathon

noun

mar·​a·​thon ˈmar-ə-ˌthän 

1

a

: a long-distance footrace of 26 miles 385 yards (42.2 kilometers) that is run on an open course

b

: a race other than a footrace (as for swimmers) marked especially by great distance

2

: a long hard contest

a dance marathon

marathon adjective

Etymology

named for Marathon, site of a battlefield in ancient Greece

Word Origin

Marathon is the name of a plain in Greece located about 26 miles (42 kilometers) from the city of Athens. It was the scene of a great victory by the Greeks over the Persians in 490 b.c. According to legend a Greek soldier named Pheidipiddes ran all the way from the battlefield to Athens to deliver the news. He reached the city, gasped out his message, and fell dead. When the modern Olympic Games began in 1896, one of the events was a footrace of 26 miles 385 yards (42.2 kilometers), called a marathon, in honor of the legendary run by Pheidipiddes.

Geographical Definition

Marathon

geographical name

Mar·​a·​thon ˈmer-ə-ˌthän 

ˈma-rə-

1

plain of eastern Greece in Attica northeast of Athens on the Aegean Sea

2

ancient town on the plain of Marathon