Where does the word 'marathon' come from?

It originates from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek messenger who ran from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens (about 26 miles) to announce victory, after which he died. The modern race commemorates this run.

Can 'marathon' be used as a verb?

Yes, informally, meaning 'to watch, read, or do something for a long period in one session' (e.g., 'We marathoned a TV show'). It's more common in casual speech.

What is the main difference between a marathon and a sprint?

A marathon is a long-distance race (42.195 km) focused on endurance and pacing. A sprint is a short-distance race (e.g., 100m) focused on maximum speed and explosive power. Figuratively, 'a marathon' implies a long, sustained effort, while 'a sprint' implies a short, intense burst.

Is the figurative use of 'marathon' (e.g., 'a marathon meeting') acceptable in formal writing?

Yes, the metaphorical use is well-established and acceptable in most formal contexts, including business and academic writing, to effectively convey the concept of a prolonged and arduous activity.

marathon

UK/ˈmærəθən/US/ˈmærəθɑːn/ or /ˈmerəθɑːn/

neutral (used across formal and informal contexts)

My Flashcards

Definition

Meaning

a long-distance running race, officially 26 miles 385 yards (42.195 km)

any long and difficult task or activity requiring endurance

Linguistics

Semantic Notes

The word functions primarily as a noun. Its figurative sense of 'a long, drawn-out event' is now dominant in non-sporting contexts.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No major differences in meaning. British English may historically show a slight preference for 'marathon race' to be explicit, but this is now rare.

Connotations

Equally strong connotations of endurance, length, and challenge in both varieties.

Frequency

Frequency is high and virtually identical in both varieties.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

run a marathontrain for a marathonmarathon runnermarathon session

medium

a marathon ofmarathon effortmarathon negotiationscomplete a marathon

weak

marathon distancemarathon winnermarathon routeorganise a marathon

Grammar

Valency Patterns

VERB + marathon (run, complete, enter, win)marathon + of + NOUN (a marathon of meetings)marathon + NOUN (marathon runner, marathon task)

Vocabulary

Synonyms

Strong

ordealsloggrind

Neutral

endurance testlong haulgruelling task

Weak

long racechallengetest of stamina

Vocabulary

Antonyms

sprintbrief eventshort task

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“marathon effort”
“a marathon not a sprint”

Usage

Context Usage

Business

Refers to protracted negotiations, meetings, or projects (e.g., 'The contract talks were a real marathon.').

Academic

Used metaphorically for lengthy research or writing processes (e.g., 'Writing the dissertation was an academic marathon.').

Everyday

Commonly used for any long, tiring activity (e.g., 'Christmas shopping is a marathon.').

Technical

Specifically refers to the athletic event, its distance, and related physiology/training.

Examples

By Part of Speech

verb

British English

We're planning to marathon the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy this weekend.
He marathoned six seasons of the show in a fortnight.

American English

Let's marathon all the Star Wars movies.
She marathoned her way through the entire book series on holiday.

adjective

British English

They held a marathon 12-hour meeting to resolve the issue.
The marathon climb exhausted all the hikers.

American English

It was a marathon session of Congress.
She went on a marathon shopping spree.

Examples

By CEFR Level

My uncle runs in a marathon every year.
The London Marathon is very famous.

Training for a marathon requires a lot of discipline and time.
We had a marathon cleaning session before the guests arrived.

The diplomatic talks turned into a marathon, lasting three days without a break.
After a marathon of back-to-back interviews, the candidate was utterly drained.

The film festival featured a marathon of Italian neorealist cinema, challenging even the most devoted cinephiles.
The committee's marathon deliberations finally yielded a groundbreaking policy framework.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a MARATHON runner getting THIN from running so far. MARA-THIN.

Conceptual Metaphor

LENGTHY ACTIVITY IS A MARATHON (e.g., 'Election campaigns are a marathon.').

Watch out

Common Pitfalls

Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)

Avoid direct calque 'марафон' for all figurative uses; assess if 'длительное мероприятие', 'изнурительная задача' is better.
In Russian, 'марафон' can refer to a continuous TV/radio broadcast; this media sense is less common in English.

Common Mistakes

Using 'marathon' as a verb without the proper derivational form (e.g., 'We marathoned the TV series' is informal but accepted; 'We marathon the series' is incorrect).
Confusing with 'sprint' – a marathon is about endurance, not speed.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The peace negotiations became a diplomatic , stretching on for weeks without a clear resolution.

Multiple Choice

In a business context, what does 'a marathon' most commonly refer to?

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: It originates from the legend of Pheidippides, a Greek messenger who ran from the battlefield of Marathon to Athens (about 26 miles) to announce victory, after which he died. The modern race commemorates this run.
: Yes, informally, meaning 'to watch, read, or do something for a long period in one session' (e.g., 'We marathoned a TV show'). It's more common in casual speech.
: A marathon is a long-distance race (42.195 km) focused on endurance and pacing. A sprint is a short-distance race (e.g., 100m) focused on maximum speed and explosive power. Figuratively, 'a marathon' implies a long, sustained effort, while 'a sprint' implies a short, intense burst.
: Yes, the metaphorical use is well-established and acceptable in most formal contexts, including business and academic writing, to effectively convey the concept of a prolonged and arduous activity.