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

The Senate confirmed Blanche early Saturday morning following a marathon overnight session as senators prepared to depart for their August recess. — Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026

The marathon comes four days ahead of the 2026 Emmy Awards, which will air on NBC with Hargitay set to host. — Joe Otterson, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026

The Red Sox had cruised to a 13-1 win on Friday night, rolling to that victory one night after rallying five times against the White Sox in a 13-inning marathon. — Curt Anderson, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026

The female half marathon record is 55 T-shirts, set by Meredith Smith in 2025. — Brian Anthony Hernandez, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026

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

Rhymes for marathon

• aileron
• antiphon
• autobahn
• carillon
• castellan
• celadon
• cephalon
• cynodon
• denouement
• deuteron
• echelon
• epsilon

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