marathon

UK: ˈmærəθən | US: ˈmærəθɑːn

Definition

  1. n. 1. A long-distance running race of 26.2 miles (42.195 km).

  2. n. 2. An endurance contest or prolonged activity requiring sustained effort.

Structure
mara <place name>thon <noun suffix>
Etymology

The word "marathon" originates from the Battle of Marathon (490 BCE), where a Greek messenger famously ran 26.2 miles to Athens to announce victory over Persia. The modern race commemorates this feat. The suffix "-thon" later generalized to denote endurance events (e.g., "telethon").

Examples

  1. She trained for months to complete her first marathon.

  2. The project turned into a marathon of late-night meetings.

  3. The annual city marathon attracts thousands of runners.

  4. He compared the exam week to an academic marathon.

  5. The film festival was a 12-hour cinematic marathon.