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View synonyms for Olympian

Olympian

[ uh-lim-pee-uhn, oh-lim- ]

adjective

  1. pertaining to Mount Olympus or dwelling thereon, as the gods of classical Greece.
  2. pertaining to Olympia in Elis.
  3. of, resembling, characteristic of, or suitable to the gods of Olympus; majestic or aloof:

    an Olympian landscape; an Olympian disdain.

noun

  1. an Olympian deity.
  2. a contender in the Olympic Games.
  3. a native or inhabitant of Olympia.

Olympian

/ əˈlɪmpɪən /

adjective

  1. of or relating to Mount Olympus or to the classical Greek gods
  2. majestic or godlike in manner or bearing
  3. superior to mundane considerations, esp when impractical
  4. of or relating to ancient Olympia or its inhabitants

noun

  1. a god of Olympus
  2. an inhabitant or native of ancient Olympia
  3. a competitor in the Olympic Games

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Other Words From

  • O·lympi·an·ly adverb

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Word History and Origins

Origin of Olympian1

1585–95; < Late Latin Olympiānus, equivalent to Latin Olympi ( us ) (< Greek Olýmpios, derivative of Ólympos Olympus ) + -ānus -an

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Example Sentences

After just two minutes with her, I knew that I wanted to become an Olympian.

It’s been an era of increased visibility in the media, led by Caitlyn Jenner’s 2015 announcement that the former Olympian was transitioning.

From Ozy

People can take your American record away, but never the status of being an Olympian.

I think it’s because people who know nothing about running still know what an Olympian is.

Tracksmith running experts Nick Willis, a two-time Olympian, and Mary Cain, 3000 meter World Junior Champion.

Olympian Kevin Jackson later accused du Pont of firing him from Team Foxcatcher for being black.

The double amputee Olympian is charged with the 2013 shooting death of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp.

But her immediate response to being unable to compete—“Am I still an Olympian?”

If he does, he will be the most decorated Winter Olympian of all time.

Olympian Daley received a deluge of goodwill messages after announcing he was in a gay relationship last December.

Directors were to us junior clerks, remote personalities, mythical beings dwelling on Olympian heights.

And lo, this Olympian being, this unfathomable man, descended from his cloud-capped heights and held out his hand to Tchaikovsky.

Apollo, the next great personage of the Olympian divinities, was more respectable morally than his father.

These were the twelve Olympian divinities, or greater gods; but they represent only a small part of the Grecian Pantheon.

Aunt Maria's Olympian head nodded, and her cheerful face, glowing with tea and the camp fires, confessed "Certainly!"

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Related Words

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More About Olympian

What does olympian mean?

An olympian is an athlete who competes (or has competed) in the Olympic Games (popularly called the Olympics), an international athletic competition featuring multiple sporting events between athletes representing their country. The word is often capitalized.

There are two related but separate events called the Olympics: one hosted in winter, called the Winter Games, and one hosted in summer, called the Summer Games (they are commonly called the Winter Olympics and the Summer Olympics). The Winter Olympics feature winter sports, including figure skating, skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, and many others. The Summer Olympics feature traditionally warm weather and indoor sports, like track and field, gymnastics, swimming, and basketball, among many others.

At the Olympics, the Olympians who finish in the top three places in each event are famously awarded Olympic medals: gold for first place, silver for second place, and bronze for third place.

Olympians are often considered the best athletes in the world, and winning a medal—or simply being an olympian—is considered one of the peaks of athletic achievement.

The modern Olympics are based on an ancient Greek festival and competition that’s also referred to as the Olympic Games, and competitors in these games are also referred to as olympians.

Especially when it’s capitalized, the word Olympian can also be used in reference to the gods of Greek mythology, who were believed to inhabit Mount Olympus. It can be used as a noun referring to one of the gods or as an adjective to describe things involving them or resembling them. Sometimes, it’s used more generally to mean about the same thing as majestic.

Where does olympian come from?

The ancient Greek Olympic Games are thought to have been first held in 776 b.c.e., and they were held regularly—often every four years—until the 4th century c.e. They get their name from the fact that they were held in a place known as Olympia, the plain of Mount Olympus. The ancient Olympic Games featured a number of athletic competitions—some of which are still events today, such as discus—but they were also a major religious festival (hence their location, since Mount Olympus was believed to be the realm of the gods).

In 1892, French scholar Pierre de Coubertin began a movement to reinstate the Olympic Games as a global event. In 1896, the first global modern Olympic Games were held in Athens, Greece. Today, the Olympics host thousands of olympians from more than 90 countries.

What are some terms that often get used in discussing olympians?

How are olympians discussed in real life?

Many Olympic events are widely considered the pinnacle of athletic competition, and olympians are often considered the best athletes in the world.

 

Try using olympian!

True or False?

The word olympian is ultimately based on the name of Mount Olympus.

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