A marathon is a test of long-term stamina rather than short-term speed.
Wort in 30 Sekunden
- A 26.2-mile (42.195 km) long-distance running race.
- Any long, difficult task requiring great endurance and patience.
- Commonly used to describe long sessions of movies or meetings.
Overview
The word 'marathon' originates from the Greek legend of Pheidippides, a messenger who ran from the site of the Battle of Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory over the Persians. In modern language, it has transitioned from a strictly athletic term to a common metaphor for any grueling, long-term effort. It represents the ultimate test of stamina and persistence.
Usage Patterns
'Marathon' is most frequently used as a countable noun, as in 'running a marathon.' However, it is very commonly used as an attributive noun (acting like an adjective) to modify other nouns. Examples include 'marathon meeting,' 'marathon session,' or 'marathon negotiation.' In these cases, it emphasizes that the event was unusually long and exhausting.
Common Contexts
In sports, it refers to the specific 26.2-mile race found in the Olympics and major city events like the Boston or London Marathons. In entertainment, a 'movie marathon' or 'TV marathon' involves watching many episodes or films in a single sitting. In business, it describes long, drawn-out processes that require patience, such as 'marathon budget talks.'
Similar Words Comparison
Unlike a 'sprint,' which focuses on maximum speed over a very short distance, a marathon focuses on pacing and endurance. While 'race' is a general term for any competition of speed, a marathon specifically implies a long-distance challenge. Compared to 'endurance,' which is a quality or state of being, a marathon is the specific event or task that tests that quality.
Beispiele
He is training hard to run his first marathon this October.
everydayHe is training hard to run his first marathon this October.
The committee reached a decision after a marathon eight-hour meeting.
formalThe committee reached a decision after a marathon eight-hour meeting.
We had a Star Wars marathon and watched all nine movies in two days.
informalWe had a Star Wars marathon and watched all nine movies in two days.
The transition to renewable energy is a marathon, not a sprint.
academicThe transition to renewable energy is a marathon, not a sprint.
Häufige Kollokationen
Häufige Phrasen
movie marathon
watching many movies in a row
it's a marathon, not a sprint
it requires long-term effort, not just a quick burst of energy
Wird oft verwechselt mit
A sprint is a short, high-speed race, whereas a marathon is a long-distance race requiring endurance.
A triathlon consists of swimming, cycling, and running, while a marathon is strictly a running race.
Grammatikmuster
Nutzungshinweise
In a sports context, 'marathon' is quite formal and specific to the 26.2-mile distance. In everyday conversation, it is often used figuratively to complain about or describe something that felt excessively long.
Häufige Fehler
A common mistake is calling any long run a 'marathon.' Technically, if it is not 26.2 miles, it is just a 'long-distance run.' Also, avoid using it for things that are difficult but short.
Merkhilfe
Think of the word 'More' + 'than' a normal race. A marathon is 'more than' what most people can run easily.
Wortherkunft
Derived from the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC. Legend says a Greek soldier ran from Marathon to Athens to deliver news of a victory and died immediately after.
Kultureller Kontext
The marathon is the traditional closing event of the Summer Olympics. It is seen globally as a symbol of human perseverance and the ability to overcome physical limits.
Focus on the idea of endurance
Use 'marathon' when you want to emphasize that something was long and required a lot of energy to finish.
Don't confuse with a sprint
Never use 'marathon' for a short, fast task; that is a 'sprint' or a 'dash'.
Major City Marathons
Many world-famous cities like New York, Tokyo, and Berlin host annual marathons that attract thousands of international runners.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
4 FragenA standard marathon is exactly 26.2 miles or 42.195 kilometers long.
While not a standard verb, people sometimes use it informally (e.g., 'I marathon-watched the series'), but it is usually used as a noun.
It is an event where someone watches a series of movies back-to-back for many hours.
Yes, a marathon is only running, while a triathlon involves swimming, cycling, and running.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence with the correct usage of the word.
After a ten-hour ___ session, the two companies finally signed the contract.
A ten-hour session is very long and requires endurance, making 'marathon' the appropriate choice.
What does 'marathon' mean in the context of a 'TV marathon'?
I spent the weekend doing a Harry Potter marathon.
A 'TV' or 'movie' marathon refers to watching content for an extended period.
Reorder the words to create a logical sentence.
training / months / for / she / spent / her / marathon / first
This follows the standard Subject-Verb-Object-Prepositional Phrase structure.
🎉 Ergebnis: /3
Summary
A marathon is a test of long-term stamina rather than short-term speed.
- A 26.2-mile (42.195 km) long-distance running race.
- Any long, difficult task requiring great endurance and patience.
- Commonly used to describe long sessions of movies or meetings.
Focus on the idea of endurance
Use 'marathon' when you want to emphasize that something was long and required a lot of energy to finish.
Don't confuse with a sprint
Never use 'marathon' for a short, fast task; that is a 'sprint' or a 'dash'.
Major City Marathons
Many world-famous cities like New York, Tokyo, and Berlin host annual marathons that attract thousands of international runners.
Beispiele
4 von 4He is training hard to run his first marathon this October.
He is training hard to run his first marathon this October.
The committee reached a decision after a marathon eight-hour meeting.
The committee reached a decision after a marathon eight-hour meeting.
We had a Star Wars marathon and watched all nine movies in two days.
We had a Star Wars marathon and watched all nine movies in two days.
The transition to renewable energy is a marathon, not a sprint.
The transition to renewable energy is a marathon, not a sprint.
