noun
marathon
MA-ruh-thuhn
noun
1
A long-distance foot race of just over 26 miles (42.195 km).
"She trained for months before running her first marathon."
2
Any activity that goes on for an unusually long, exhausting stretch of time.
"The negotiations turned into a twelve-hour marathon."
verb
1
To watch or consume many episodes or installments of something in one continuous sitting.
"We marathoned the entire series over the weekend."
How to Use Marathon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe 26-mile race, or by extension anything drawn-out and grueling.
Common pairings
run a marathon
marathon session
marathon training
Word Forms
marathoned past tense, marathons plural, Marathons plural, marathons singular
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Etymology
Named after the Battle of Marathon in ancient Greece; legend holds that a messenger ran from Marathon to Athens to announce the Greek victory, and the modern race commemorates that run.