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 launch follows the August release of Saucony’s fall marathon sneaker collection, which featured four unique Endorphin Azura colorways inspired by the race cities of Sydney, Berlin, Chicago and New York. — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026

In a marathon match that lasted 4 hours, 36 minutes, Djokovic was upset by the 25-year-old Argentine player in what went down as the longest opener of a Grand Slam in the Serbian tennis star’s career and earliest elimination in one in two decades. — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026

Arlowe Sneakers out of my suitcase and set out on a marathon travel day. — Rebecca Shinners, Travel + Leisure, 31 Aug. 2026

During one of the production’s marathon 16-hour days, the two found themselves at a table creating a little art piece out of a drawing Malkovich had made. — Los Angeles Times, 31 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