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
Example Sentences
We watched a marathon of our favorite movies.
Recent Examples on the Web After getting engaged, the couple had a whirlwind year of moving in together, celebrating holidays and even running a marathon. 
Staff Author Published, Peoplemag, 15 Aug. 2022 Even having gotten an epidural, caring for my daughter during the first few weeks of her life felt like running a marathon directly after being hit by a train. Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2022 Swimming with sharks is high atop many adrenaline seekers’ bucket lists — typically sandwiched somewhere between skydiving and running a marathon. Rachel Schnalzer, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2022 According to a 2019 report on cricket and climate change, a professional batsman playing over a day can generate heat equivalent to running a marathon. New York Times, 4 Aug. 2022 Instead of attempting to hedge against rising prices, Graff added, individual investors would be much better off running the marathon and riding out the current market volatility. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 20 July 2022 This has been baseball triage, in the middle of running a marathon. Bryce Millercolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2022 Credit Sarkisian and Milwee for running the marathon and beating out Alabama’s Nick Saban, Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, among others. Nick Moyle, San Antonio Express-News, 23 June 2022 The changes that the body undergoes during pregnancy are needed to support an ongoing gestation but are still physiologically akin to running a marathon. Adebayo Adesomo, Scientific American, 30 May 2022 See More
Staff Author Published, Peoplemag, 15 Aug. 2022 Even having gotten an epidural, caring for my daughter during the first few weeks of her life felt like running a marathon directly after being hit by a train. Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 12 Aug. 2022 Swimming with sharks is high atop many adrenaline seekers’ bucket lists — typically sandwiched somewhere between skydiving and running a marathon. Rachel Schnalzer, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2022 According to a 2019 report on cricket and climate change, a professional batsman playing over a day can generate heat equivalent to running a marathon. New York Times, 4 Aug. 2022 Instead of attempting to hedge against rising prices, Graff added, individual investors would be much better off running the marathon and riding out the current market volatility. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 20 July 2022 This has been baseball triage, in the middle of running a marathon. Bryce Millercolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 June 2022 Credit Sarkisian and Milwee for running the marathon and beating out Alabama’s Nick Saban, Georgia’s Kirby Smart and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney, among others. Nick Moyle, San Antonio Express-News, 23 June 2022 The changes that the body undergoes during pregnancy are needed to support an ongoing gestation but are still physiologically akin to running a marathon. Adebayo Adesomo, Scientific American, 30 May 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
marathon
noun
mar·a·thon ˈmer-ə-ˌthän
1
: a long-distance running race
2
: a long hard contest
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
marathon 1 of 2
adjective
as in long
lasting for a considerable time a marathon study session the night before the exam Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- long
- lengthy
- far
- extended
- great
- endless
- prolonged
- protracted
- long-term
- long-drawn
- long-drawn-out
- interminable
- multiday
- overlong
- longish
- long-lived
- persistent
- everlasting
- aeonian
- all-day
- all-night
- permanent
- multiyear
- aeonic
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- mini
- short
- brief
- little
- shortish
- sudden
- curtailed
- abbreviated
- shortened
- short-term
- condensed
- fleeting
- abrupt
- short-lived
- transitory
- transient
- momentary
- ephemeral
- impermanent
- short-range
marathon
2 of 2noun
as in ultramarathon
Synonyms & Similar Words
- ultramarathon
- triathlon
- race
- biathlon
- pentathlon
- decathlon
- heptathlon
- derby
- outing
- run
- round
- heat
- open
- final
- gymkhana
- championship
- semifinal
- field day
- set
- rally
- volley
- runoff
- rubber
- sudden death
- play-off
- dead heat
- nightcap
- scrimmage
- photo finish
- skirmish
- round-robin
- battle
- national(s)
- seesaw
- tussle
- struggle
- conflict
- tug-of-war