Explanation at your level:
A marathon is a very long race. You run for a long time. It is 42 kilometers. It is hard work!
A marathon is a race that is 42 kilometers long. Many people run in marathons to stay healthy. You can also use the word for other long things, like a movie marathon.
A marathon is a long-distance race of 42.195 km. People who run them need lots of training. We also use 'marathon' to describe any activity that takes a long time, like a 'study marathon' before an exam.
Beyond the literal race, a marathon represents a test of endurance. In professional settings, a 'marathon meeting' describes a session that lasts for hours. It is a common way to emphasize that something is exhausting and requires patience.
The term has evolved from a specific athletic event into a metaphor for sustained, arduous effort. In academic or business contexts, it describes projects that require significant stamina. It implies a 'long game' approach rather than a quick sprint to completion.
Historically rooted in the Battle of Marathon, the term has transcended its etymological origins to become a universal signifier of human tenacity. Whether discussing the physical rigors of an Olympic athlete or the psychological endurance required for a marathon of negotiations, the word captures the essence of perseverance against temporal fatigue.
Mot en 30 secondes
- Marathon is a 42.195km race.
- It comes from Greek history.
- Metaphorically means a long, tiring task.
- It is a countable noun.
When you hear the word marathon, you probably picture people running through city streets. At its core, a marathon is a long-distance race. The official distance is set at 42.195 kilometers, which is quite a challenge for the human body.
However, we often use the word in our daily lives to describe things that aren't about running at all. If you have to sit through a five-hour meeting, you might call it a marathon meeting. It implies that the task is long, tiring, and requires a lot of mental endurance to reach the finish line.
The word marathon has a fascinating history rooted in ancient Greece. It comes from the town of Marathon, where a famous battle took place in 490 BC. According to legend, a messenger named Pheidippides ran from the battlefield to Athens to announce victory.
He reportedly ran the entire distance without stopping, only to collapse and die after delivering the news. When the modern Olympic Games were organized in 1896, organizers wanted to commemorate this legendary run. They created a race based on the distance between Marathon and Athens, and the name stuck forever.
You will hear marathon used in both sports and casual conversation. In sports, it is a specific event, often preceded by verbs like run or complete. For example, 'She is training for a marathon.'
In casual English, it is often used as a noun adjunct to describe a long period of activity. You might hear people talk about a movie marathon or a coding marathon. It suggests you are doing one thing for a very long time, usually for fun or out of necessity.
While 'marathon' itself isn't an idiom, it is used in several common expressions.
- Run a marathon: Literally participating in the race.
- Marathon session: A meeting or task that goes on much longer than expected.
- Marathon runner: Someone who has the stamina for long-term projects.
- Marathon effort: A task requiring immense, sustained energy.
- Movie marathon: Watching several films in a row.
The word marathon is a countable noun. Its plural form is simply marathons. You will often see it used with articles: 'I am running a marathon' or 'The marathon was difficult.'
Pronunciation varies slightly between British and American English, but the stress is always on the first syllable: MA-ra-thon. It rhymes with words like siphon (in some dialects) or simply follows the 'thon' sound found in python.
Fun Fact
The distance was standardized to 42.195km in 1908 to suit the British Royal Family.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'th' sound at the end.
Slightly longer 'a' sound in the last syllable.
Common Errors
- mispronouncing the 'th'
- stressing the second syllable
- dropping the 'r'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to say
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Avanc
Grammar to Know
Countable Nouns
I ran two marathons.
Articles
The marathon was fun.
Present Continuous
He is running a marathon.
Examples by Level
The marathon is long.
marathon = race
Subject-verb
I like the marathon.
like = enjoy
Verb usage
He runs a marathon.
runs = fast walking
Present simple
Is it a marathon?
question form
Question
The marathon is hard.
hard = difficult
Adjective
She finished the marathon.
finished = done
Past tense
A marathon is fun.
fun = happy
Simple sentence
They watch the marathon.
watch = see
Verb
I want to run a marathon one day.
The city marathon starts at dawn.
She finished her first marathon.
It was a marathon of a meeting.
He trained for the marathon.
They held a movie marathon.
The marathon route is beautiful.
Is the marathon very long?
Running a marathon requires months of preparation.
We had a reading marathon over the weekend.
He is a marathon runner.
The charity marathon raised a lot of money.
I felt exhausted after the marathon.
She completed the marathon in four hours.
The marathon course was hilly.
We enjoyed the Harry Potter movie marathon.
The negotiations turned into a marathon session.
Training for a marathon demands immense discipline.
The project became a marathon of late-night coding.
He set a personal best in the marathon.
They organized a marathon of interviews.
The marathon pace was too fast for me.
It was a marathon effort to finish the report.
She is preparing for the Boston marathon.
The candidate endured a marathon of questions from the press.
His marathon speech lasted over three hours.
The transition process was a marathon, not a sprint.
She treated the exam season like a mental marathon.
The marathon of events left everyone drained.
He possesses the stamina of a marathon runner.
The trial was a marathon of legal arguments.
They embarked on a marathon of house hunting.
The marathon of diplomatic talks finally reached a conclusion.
Her marathon of research spanned over a decade.
He approached the task with the steady pace of a marathon runner.
The marathon of administrative hurdles was daunting.
It was a marathon of endurance in the wilderness.
The marathon of artistic creation took its toll.
He viewed his career as a marathon, not a sprint.
The marathon of legislative debates continued until dawn.
Collocations courantes
Idioms & Expressions
"a marathon, not a sprint"
a long-term task requiring patience
Success in business is a marathon, not a sprint.
neutral"run a marathon"
to do a very long task
I feel like I've run a marathon today.
casual"marathon of [something]"
a long series of
It was a marathon of meetings.
neutral"marathon effort"
sustained hard work
It required a marathon effort to clean the house.
neutral"go the distance"
to finish something long
He has the energy to go the distance.
neutral"in for the long haul"
prepared for a long time
We are in for the long haul.
neutralEasily Confused
both are races
marathon is long, sprint is short
He ran a sprint, not a marathon.
general term
marathon is a specific race
All marathons are races, but not all races are marathons.
similar root
one is the person, one is the event
The marathoner ran the marathon.
both end in -thon
triathlon includes swimming and biking
A triathlon is harder than a marathon.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + ran + a + marathon
He ran a marathon.
It was a marathon + of + noun
It was a marathon of meetings.
He is training for a marathon
She is training for a marathon.
The marathon + verb
The marathon was difficult.
A marathon effort + verb
A marathon effort is needed.
Famille de mots
Nouns
Adjectives
Apparenté
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Erreurs courantes
While 'marathoner' exists, it is less common than 'marathon runner'.
Marathon is a noun, not a verb.
Redundant, as marathon already implies a race.
Avoid unnecessary possessives.
More specific verb usage.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a marathon runner in your hallway.
Native Usage
Use it for long meetings.
Cultural Insight
Associated with Greek history.
Grammar Shortcut
It is always countable.
Say It Right
Stress the first syllable.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use it as a verb.
Did You Know?
It commemorates a messenger.
Study Smart
Use it in sentences.
Context
Think 'long and tiring'.
Writing Tip
Use it to describe long projects.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
MARA-thon: My Aunt Runs Always.
Visual Association
A runner with a medal crossing a finish line.
Word Web
Défi
Try to run for 20 minutes straight.
Origine du mot
Greek
Original meaning: Place name (Marathon)
Contexte culturel
None
Very common in US/UK culture, often associated with charity events.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at work
- marathon session
- marathon meeting
- marathon project
sports
- run a marathon
- marathon runner
- training for a marathon
leisure
- movie marathon
- reading marathon
- gaming marathon
general
- marathon effort
- marathon of tasks
- long marathon
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever run a marathon?"
"What is the longest meeting you have ever had?"
"Do you like watching marathons on TV?"
"What is a marathon of work like for you?"
"Would you ever train for a marathon?"
Journal Prompts
Describe a time you had to show marathon-like endurance.
If you could run a marathon anywhere, where would it be?
Write about a 'marathon' of activity you enjoyed.
Why do people push themselves to run marathons?
Questions fréquentes
8 questions42.195 kilometers.
Yes, for any long activity.
No, it is a noun.
Marathons.
A Greek town.
Yes, it requires training.
A marathon runner.
Usually, but can be metaphorical.
Teste-toi
I want to run a ___.
Marathon is the race.
What is a marathon?
A marathon is a long race.
A marathon is exactly 42.195 kilometers.
That is the official distance.
Word
Signification
Definitions match.
He ran the marathon.
The meeting was a real ___.
Used metaphorically.
Which is a synonym for marathon in a work context?
Ordeal implies a long, hard task.
Marathon can be used as a verb.
It is a noun.
Word
Signification
Abstract associations.
It was a marathon of talks.
Score : /10
Summary
A marathon is a long-distance race or a metaphor for any task requiring great endurance.
- Marathon is a 42.195km race.
- It comes from Greek history.
- Metaphorically means a long, tiring task.
- It is a countable noun.
Memory Palace
Imagine a marathon runner in your hallway.
Native Usage
Use it for long meetings.
Cultural Insight
Associated with Greek history.
Grammar Shortcut
It is always countable.
