Olympic Games

plural noun

1
: an ancient Panhellenic festival held every fourth year and made up of contests of sports, music, and literature with the victor's prize a crown of wild olive
2
: a modified revival of the ancient Olympic Games consisting of international athletic contests that are held at separate winter and summer gatherings at four year intervals

called also Olym*pics\ ə-​ˈlim-​piks How to pronounce Olympic Games (audio) , ō-​ \

Examples of Olympic Games in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The increase is attributed to higher political advertising revenue and the broadcast of the 2024 Olympic Games. Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024 Known for its scenic route along Sydney Harbour and past the city’s iconic landmarks, the marathon has expanded dramatically since its inception as a legacy of the 2000 Olympic Games, which saw 1,200 finishers in its first year. Homero De La Fuente, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024 This time, Leon Marchand, who represented France and earned five medals at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, has shattered Ryan Lochte’s short course meters world record in the 200 IM—a record that had stood for 12 years. Casey Murphy, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 The region is proud to have hosted two of the Winter Olympic Games—as well as restricting building development—ensuring the mountains remain in their natural state. Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Olympic Games 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Olympic Games was circa 1586

Dictionary Entries Near Olympic Games

Cite this Entry

“Olympic Games.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Olympic%20Games. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

Olympic Games

plural noun
1
: an ancient Greek festival held every fourth year and made up of contests in sports, music, and literature
2
: a series of international athletic contests held in a different country during the summer and the winter once every four years

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