Richard PollakJames ClavellThe New York Times Book ReviewS. L. PriceM. C. Howatson
Did you know?
The Greek gods lived high atop Mt. Olympus, which allowed them to watch what went on in the human realm below and intervene as they saw fit. They insisted on being properly worshipped by humans, but otherwise tended to treat the affairs of these weak and short-lived creatures almost like a sport. So Olympian describes someone who seems "lofty" and "above it all", as if surveying a scene in which other people appear the size of ants. The Olympic Games were first celebrated in the 8th century B.C., at the religious site called Olympia (far from Mt. Olympus), and Olympian today actually most often refers to Olympic athletes.
Examples of Olympian in a Sentence
Anne M Peterson, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2024
That gesture indirectly led to Weber’s first Olympian encounter — Ireland’s Natalya Coyle, a three-time modern pentathlon competitor, reached out for embroidery for her wedding gown.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 24 June 2024
First, Olympian and self-proclaimed fashion lover Serena Williams walked the Vogue World runway show in an Off-White gown.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 24 June 2024
Plus a few more essentials that keep the Olympian comfy—and feeling like herself—on the road.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 17 June 2024
The 27-year-old Olympian stars in a powerful new spot for Athleta's 'Power of She' campaign ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, and PEOPLE has the exclusive first look.
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 14 June 2024
Groove with dinosaurs and ‘Dancing with the Stars’ this week in CT arts
How ‘Boys in the Boat’ star Callum Turner tackled the film’s Olympian challenge
A CT man fled a traffic stop.
—Hartford Courant, 13 June 2024
The update was met with love from fans and fellow celebs alike, including Dobrev’s beau, Olympian snowboarder Shaun White.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 6 June 2024
Apollo, the most beautiful Olympian deity, places a laurel wreath on his own head, much as a victorious ancient Greek athlete might.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 21 May 2024
Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2024
Former college basketball star Canyon Barry isn't the only Olympian who has to balance 9-to-5 work with preparation for Paris.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 4 July 2024
On Tuesday, July 2, the retired Olympian, 31, shared several photos to her Instagram Stories of her 4-year-old's impromptu haircut after a playdate gone wrong.
—Emma Aerin Becker, Peoplemag, 3 July 2024
The Argentine hall of famer, Olympian, and mom of two learned the value of hard work from her immigrant parents.
—Grace Bastidas, Parents, 2 July 2024
Cassandre Prosper, the No. 16 prospect in the Class of 2023, will be a first-time Olympian after missing most of her season at Notre Dame with a lower-leg injury, as will incoming Michigan freshman Syla Swords, the No. 4 recruit in 2024.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 2 July 2024
The only non-veteran on the new team, her father was visibly emotional as his baby’s name was called as a 2024 Olympian.
—Deanna Taylor, Essence, 1 July 2024
Although Hiltz, Mackay, and 2020 Olympian Heather MacLean briefly shared the lead while rounding the race’s bell lap, Hiltz ultimately pulled ahead in the final 100 meters and won, holding onto their 2023 national championship title.
—Abby Monteil, Them, 1 July 2024
Bill Mallon, an Olympics historian, told CBS News that Wilson is the youngest male track Olympian to make the U.S. team.
—Christopher Brito, CBS News, 1 July 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Olympian.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near Olympian
Cite this Entry
“Olympian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Olympian. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Olympian
1 of 4 adjective
Olympian
2 of 4 adjectiveOlympian
3 of 4 nounOlympian
4 of 4 noun
Share