athlete

[ ath-leet ]

/ ˈæθ lit /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: athlete / athletes on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person trained or gifted in exercises or contests involving physical agility, stamina, or strength; a participant in a sport, exercise, or game requiring physical skill.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"

"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."

Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of athlete

1520–30; <Latin āthlēta<Greek āthlētḗs, equivalent to āthlē- (variant stem of āthleîn to contend for a prize, derivative of âthlos a contest) + -tēs suffix of agency

how to pronounce athlete

Athlete, athletic, and athletics, normally pronounced

[ath-leet], /ˈæθ lit/,

[ath-let-ik], /æθˈlɛt ɪk/, and

[ath-let-iks], /æθˈlɛt ɪks/, are heard frequently with an epenthetic schwa, an intrusive unstressed vowel inserted between the first and second syllables:

[ath-uh-leet], /ˈæθ əˌlit/,

[ath-uh-let-ik], /ˌæθ əˈlɛt ɪk/, and

[ath-uh-let-iks]. /ˌæθ əˈlɛt ɪks/. The pronunciations containing the extra syllable are usually considered nonstandard, in spite of their widespread use on radio and television. Pronunciations with similarly intrusive vowels are also heard, though with less currency, for other words, as

[fil-uhm] /ˈfɪl əm/ for film,

[el-uhm] /ˈɛl əm/ for elm, and

[ahr-thuh-rahy-tis] /ˌɑr θəˈraɪ tɪs/ for arthritis, rather than the standard

[film], /fɪlm/,

[elm], /ɛlm/, and

[ahr-thrahy-tis]. /ɑrˈθraɪ tɪs/.

OTHER WORDS FROM athlete

non·ath·lete, nounsu·per·ath·lete, noun

Words nearby athlete

Atherton, athetosis, A thing of beauty is a joy forever, athirst, athleisure, athlete, athlete's foot, athlete's heart, athletic, athletic heart, athleticism

How to use athlete in a sentence

Where a fan 10 years ago had a coin-flip chance of attending a fracas, the modern-day one has less than a 17 percent chance of watching athletes drop the mitts.
Fighting Didn’t Stop In The NHL Bubble|Josh Planos|August 26, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Ash, who often interacts and streams with fans on social media, has seen the number of esports athletes increase both in Pakistan and globally.
An Unlikely Esports Star Emerges From Pakistan|Daniel Malloy|August 21, 2020|Ozy
Neck gaiters, buffs—whatever you call them, the jersey-type loops of fabric that can be worn around the neck and over the face and nose—have been a favorite of athletes during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Don’t give up on your buff just yet|Katherine Ellen Foley|August 12, 2020|Quartz
Effectively, the ruling meant that clubs and teams in EU countries could sign players from nations that have free trade agreements with the bloc, without treating them as overseas athletes.
Guess Who’s Cheering for Brexit? South African Cricket|Charu Kasturi|August 12, 2020|Ozy

At the university level, students have more power as paying customers — and athletes in particular as revenue generators.
Is School Out Forever?|Daniel Malloy|August 9, 2020|Ozy
Nowhere to be found is the anguish, the drama, the pain of an athlete on that level who considering walking away.
The Story of the World’s Greatest Cricket Player|William O’Connor|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 87 Bounces, a lone athlete shoots an airball that goes on a journey through some of the most memorable films in cinema history.
Basketball Bounces Through Classic Movies|Alex Chancey, The Daily Beast Video|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But I guess you have to regard him as a great athlete who never grew up.
Football Great Bob Suffridge Wanders Through the End Zone of Life|Paul Hemphill|September 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But I think that the more important question is will I see a benefit as an athlete?
Does Fasted Cardio Really Burn More Fat?|DailyBurn|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What if I were a kid who looked up to an athlete, and that athlete made me want to do better in my own life, and then he left?
LeBron James Returns to Cleveland: How 'The Decision 2.0' Happened|Robert Silverman|July 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sometimes this cup was won by a middle-aged man, sometimes by a girl, and sometimes by a trained athlete.
The Box-Car Children|Gertrude Chandler Warner
More than ordinarily tall, she was shaped like a Juno, and moved with all the grace and freedom of an athlete.
The Everlasting Arms|Joseph Hocking
Suddenly the man, with the strength and ease of an athlete, sprang lightly out on to the roof.
The Rival Campers|Ruel Perley Smith
His blue flannel suit hung loose on his shoulders and chest, his athlete's limbs.
Marriage la mode|Mrs. Humphry Ward
Mr. Norcross stands six feet two in his socks, and I've heard that he was the best all-around athlete in his college bunch.
The Wreckers|Francis Lynde

British Dictionary definitions for athlete

athlete

/ (ˈæθliːt) /

noun

a person trained to compete in sports or exercises involving physical strength, speed, or endurance

a person who has a natural aptitude for physical activities

mainly British a competitor in track and field events

Word Origin for athlete

C18: from Latin via Greek athlētēs, from athlein to compete for a prize, from athlos a contest

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

athlete

Origin of athlete

how to pronounce athlete

OTHER WORDS FROM athlete

Words nearby athlete

Words related to athlete

How to use athlete in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for athlete

Word Origin for athlete