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Zeus

American  
[zoos] / zus /

noun

  1. the supreme deity of the ancient Greeks, a son of Cronus and Rhea, brother of Demeter, Hades, Hera, Hestia, and Poseidon, and father of a number of gods, demigods, and mortals; the god of the heavens, identified by the Romans with Jupiter.

Zeus British  
/ zjuːs /

noun

  1. Roman counterpart: Jupiter.  the supreme god of the ancient Greeks, who became ruler of gods and men after he dethroned his father Cronus and defeated the Titans. He was the husband of his sister Hera and father by her and others of many gods, demigods, and mortals. He wielded thunderbolts and ruled the heavens, while his brothers Poseidon and Hades ruled the sea and underworld respectively

"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
Zeus Cultural  

  1. The chief of the Greek and Roman gods, who defeated the Titans to assume leadership of the universe. He lived atop Mount Olympus, from which he hurled thunderbolts to announce his anger. Despite his awesome power, he had a weakness for mortal women. (See Leda and the swan.)

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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.

The flame ceremony was flanked by sculptures from the Temple of Zeus, the patron god of the ancient Olympics.

From Barron's • Nov. 26, 2025

Prolific sculptor Frederick William Sievers shows a seated Maury enthroned like Zeus before a globe held aloft by swarming figures representing the forces of air and water.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 22, 2025

The inquest heard a dog-handler was called to the scene and used a sedation dart to remove Zeus from the garden.

From BBC • Nov. 21, 2024

Nowadays, people don’t need to travel all the way to the Olympics to see cheaters' names inscribed in shame under the statues of Zeus.

From Salon • Aug. 10, 2024

Apollo, of course, would not put up with this, but Hercules was perfectly willing to fight him and Zeus had to intervene.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.