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.

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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

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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

See Examples For:

Olympic Games

Neither the Olympic Games nor any form of sport were in her mind.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

In the summer of $5,000 World Cup tickets, $10,000 Knicks seats, and preregistration for Olympic Games that remain two years away, these global spectacles are some of the last of their kind.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

"The Commonwealth Games is a good chance to show your work in progress. At the Olympic Games, you want to see your finished product," he said.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

An openly transgender woman competed in weightlifting at the Olympic Games in Tokyo that summer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

But these new Olympic Games were going to be about serious library topics, and Kyle would be playing against some serious library whiz kids.

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein