maroon

play

noun ma·roon \ mə-ˈrün \

Definition of maroon

1 capitalized :a fugitive black slave of the West Indies and Guiana in the 17th and 18th centuries; also :a descendant of such a slave

2 :a person who is marooned

Origin and Etymology of maroon

probably from French maron, marron feral, fugitive, modification of American Spanish cimarrón wild, savage

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1666

See Words from the same year

maroon

verb

Definition of maroon

transitive verb

1 :to put ashore on a desolate island or coast and leave to one's fate

2 :to place or leave in isolation or without hope of ready escape

See maroon defined for English-language learners

See maroon defined for kids

Examples of maroon in a Sentence

pets that had been cruelly marooned by their owners at the end of the summer

First Known Use of maroon

circa 1709

maroon Synonyms

Synonyms

abandon, desert, forsake, leave, quit, strand

Antonyms

reclaim

Related Words

discard, ditch, dump, fling, jettison, junk, scrap, shed, shuck (off), throw away, throw out; deliver, give up, hand over, relinquish, surrender, yield; escape, retreat (from), take off (from), vacate, withdraw (from); abjure, cut off, disown, reject, renounce, repudiate, separate (from); sacrifice; distance; disregard, forget, ignore, neglect

Near Antonyms

harbor, have, hold, keep, own, possess, reserve, retain, withhold; redeem, rescue, save

maroon

noun

Definition of maroon

:a dark red

Origin and Etymology of maroon

French marron Spanish chestnut

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1779

See Words from the same year

Other Color Terms

argentine, cerise, cerulean, cyan, ocher, perse, puce, taupe, vermilion

MAROON Defined for English Language Learners

maroon

verb

Definition of maroon for English Language Learners

: to leave (someone) in a place (such as an island) that is difficult or impossible to get away from

MAROON Defined for Kids

maroon

play

verb ma·roon \ mə-ˈrün \

Definition of maroon for Students

marooned; marooning

:to abandon in a place that is difficult to escape from The sailors were marooned on an island.

maroon

noun

Definition of maroon for Students

:a dark red

Learn More about maroon

See words that rhyme with maroon Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for maroon Spanish Central: Translation of maroon Nglish: Translation of maroon for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up maroon? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

maroon

Definition of maroon

Read the Latest from M-W

Origin and Etymology of maroon

maroon

Definition of maroon

Examples of maroon in a Sentence

First Known Use of maroon

maroon Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

maroon

Definition of maroon

Origin and Etymology of maroon

Other Color Terms

MAROON Defined for English Language Learners

maroon

Definition of maroon for English Language Learners

MAROON Defined for Kids

maroon

Definition of maroon for Students

maroon

Definition of maroon for Students

Learn More about maroon

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Breathing Life Into 'Inspire'

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066