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Olympic Games

American  

plural noun

  1. Also called Olympian Games.  the greatest of the games or festivals of ancient Greece, held every four years in the plain of Olympia in Elis, in honor of Zeus.

  2.  Olympics.  a modern international sports competition, held once every four years.


Olympic Games British  

noun

  1. the greatest Panhellenic festival, held every fourth year in honour of Zeus at ancient Olympia. From 472 bc , it consisted of five days of games, sacrifices, and festivities

  2. Also called: the Olympics.  the modern revival of these games, consisting of international athletic and sporting contests held every four years in a selected country since their inception in Athens in 1896 See also Winter Olympic Games

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Olympic Games Cultural  
  1. Games held in ancient times on the plain of Olympia in Greece every four years. It was a time for laying aside political and religious differences, as athletes from all the Greek cities and districts competed. The games included patriotic and religious rituals as well as athletic contests, and high honors were given to the winners. The Greeks counted their years by olympiads (periods of four years) and dated events from the first Olympics in 776 b.c.


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The Olympic Games deteriorated under Roman rule of Greece and were halted in the fourth century. They were revived in the late nineteenth century, with goals of peace and fellowship modeled on those of the ancient Olympics. The modern Olympics include many athletic events of the original games, such as the discus throw.

Etymology

Origin of Olympic Games

First recorded in 1600–10

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"It's going to be a monumental project, but this is a city that knows how to welcome monumental projects," he said, hailing how Paris handled last year's Olympic Games.

From Barron's

Archer has taken other steps to bring its product to the region, including partnering with the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission and promising to transport athletes and VIPs during the 2028 Olympic Games.

From Los Angeles Times

Modeled on a millennia-old Greek tradition, the Olympic Truce has been introduced at the UN biennially since 1993 by the host country of the next edition of the Olympic Games.

From Barron's

She is shaping as a major threat in future international competitions, including at the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028, if her times continue to progress.

From Barron's

With two sports fields and its pool, the site could be used for practices by foreign teams in the summer of 2028 before the Olympic Games.

From Los Angeles Times