Olympic Games

plural noun

1

: an ancient Panhellenic festival held every fourth year and made up of contests of sports, music, and literature with the victor's prize a crown of wild olive

2

: a modified revival of the ancient Olympic Games consisting of international athletic contests that are held at separate winter and summer gatherings at four year intervals

called also Olym*pics\ ə-​ˈlim-​piks , ō-​ \

Examples of Olympic Games in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Best Hotels & Resorts The Grand America Hotel Built in 2002 in anticipation of the Winter Olympic Games, The Grand America Hotel still provides standout, upscale accommodations for travelers. —Joey Skladany, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026

The 1906 Intercalated Games were considered Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee at the time, but the IOC no longer recognizes the event or its medals. —Doha Madani, NBC news, 1 Feb. 2026

In December, while refining his routine for his first Olympic Games, in Milan, the 21-year-old figure skater landed seven quadruple jumps in competition, spinning like a weather vane in a windstorm. —Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 1 Feb. 2026

Many locals fear that the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Cortina, set to begin next week on the opposite side of the Dolomites, will intensify existing pressures. —Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Olympic Games

• aims
• blames
• claims
• dames
• fames
• flames
• frames
• hames
• kames
• lames
• names
• shames

Kids Definition

Olympic Games

plural noun

1

: an ancient Greek festival held every fourth year and made up of contests in sports, music, and literature

2

: a series of international athletic contests held in a different country during the summer and the winter once every four years