marathon
- Top 10000
Sense 1
- noun
- B2
A running race of just over forty-two kilometres, usually held on roads through a city.
She finished her first marathon in under four hours.
Thirty thousand runners took part in the city marathon.
He trains six days a week for the autumn marathon.
Volunteers handed out water to runners along the marathon route.
Common collocations: run a marathon · finish a marathon · the London marathon · marathon runner · train for a marathon
Part of: Sport, Exercise and fitness
Sense 2 · less common
- noun
- C1
Something that goes on for a very long time and takes a lot of effort.
The meeting turned into a marathon and ended after midnight.
We watched the whole series in a weekend marathon.
Moving house was a marathon of boxes, dust and stairs.
Common collocations: a marathon session · a marathon meeting · a film marathon · a marathon of work
Part of: Frequency and duration, Attitudes and opinions
Forms
- plural
- marathons