olympic
gb/oʊlˈɪmpɪk/ us/oʊlˈɪmpɪk/
B1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
relating to the Olympics
connected with the Olympic Games
Usage pattern:
Olympic + [noun]
Common mistake:
In this meaning it is usually capitalized (Olympic). For the event, English more often says “the Olympics” or “the Olympic Games,” not “the Olympic.”
Synonyms
Olympian (Often refers to athletes or things connected with the Olympics; it can also have other meanings.)
Antonyms
non-Olympic (Not included in or connected with the Olympic Games.)
Collocations
Olympic Games
|Olympic athlete
|Olympic team
|Olympic event
|Olympic sport
|Olympic medal
|Olympic champion
|Olympic qualifying
|Olympic committee
|Olympic record
Themes
sports
|competition
|international
Examples
- She trained for four years to make the Olympic team.
- The city upgraded its transport system ahead of the Olympic Games.
- He broke the Olympic record in the 100 meters.
Learner examples
- He is an Olympic athlete.
- We watched the Olympic events on TV.
adjective
B2
property
2
extremely impressive or large
very big, difficult, or impressive
Usage pattern:
Olympic + [noun]
Common mistake:
This figurative use is less common than the literal Olympics meaning and often sounds journalistic or humorous.
Synonyms
epic (More general and informal; not tied to sport.)
|
monumental (Focuses on size/importance rather than athletic comparison.)
Antonyms
modest (Not large or impressive in scale.)
Collocations
Olympic effort
|Olympic proportions
|Olympic feat
|Olympic struggle
|Olympic task
|Olympic level
Themes
evaluation
|sports
Examples
- Cleaning the apartment after the party felt like an Olympic task.
- The company made an Olympic effort to meet the deadline.
- The report describes an Olympic struggle to rebuild after the storm.
Learner examples
- It took an Olympic effort to finish on time.
adjective
formal
C1
property
3
relating to ancient Olympia/Olympus
connected with ancient Greece and Olympia
Usage pattern:
Olympic + [noun]
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse with “Olympian,” which is more common for gods or for a person from Mount Olympus in literature.
Synonyms
Olympian (Often preferred when talking about the Greek gods or a lofty manner.)
Antonyms
modern (Not ancient or classical in period.)
Collocations
Olympic festival
|Olympic sanctuary
|Olympic truce
|Olympic victors
|Olympic cult
Themes
history
|ancient_greece
|culture
Examples
- Archaeologists study the Olympic sanctuary at Olympia.
- The Olympic truce was intended to allow safe travel during the ancient games.
Grammar
Dictionary form
olympic
IPA
GB/oʊlˈɪmpɪk/
US/oʊlˈɪmpɪk/
Syllables & stress
olympic (1 syllable)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: olympic
- Comparative: olympicer
- Superlative: olympicest
Word family
Forms
olympicer
adjective
olympicest
adjective
Core family
olympian
noun
Advanced or less common
olympiad
noun C1
Expressions
olympic games
1/oʊlˈɪmpɪk ɡˈeɪmz/
fixed phrase
the world’s biggest sports event
the big world sports competition called the Olympics
Examples
- The Olympic Games will be held in Los Angeles in 2028.
- She qualified for the Olympic Games after winning the national trials.
olympic gold
1/oʊlˈɪmpɪk ɡˈoʊld/
fixed phrase
first place at the Olympics
a gold medal at the Olympics
Examples
- She won Olympic gold in the 200-meter final.
- The team is going for Olympic gold after years of rebuilding.
olympic medal
1/oʊlˈɪmpɪk mˈɛdəl/
fixed phrase
prize for top Olympic finishers
a gold, silver, or bronze prize at the Olympics
Examples
- He won an Olympic medal at his first Games.
- The country celebrated its first-ever Olympic medal in swimming.
olympic rings
1/oʊlˈɪmpɪk ɹˈɪŋz/
fixed phrase
symbol of the Olympic Games
the five linked circles that are the Olympics symbol
Examples
- The Olympic rings were projected onto the stadium roof.
- The athlete posed for photos in front of the Olympic rings.
olympic sport
1/oʊlˈɪmpɪk spˈɔɹt/
fixed phrase
sport included in the Olympics
a sport that people compete in at the Olympics
Examples
- Skateboarding became an Olympic sport in 2020.
- Not every popular game is an Olympic sport.
olympic torch
1/oʊlˈɪmpɪk tˈɔɹt͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
torch carried in Olympic relay
the special torch used for the Olympic flame
Examples
- Thousands of people lined the streets to see the Olympic torch.
- She was chosen to carry the Olympic torch through her hometown.
olympic village
1/oʊlˈɪmpɪk vˈɪlɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
housing for Olympic athletes
the place where Olympic athletes live during the Games
Examples
- Athletes from around the world lived together in the Olympic Village.
- Security is tight around the Olympic Village during the Games.
olympic-size pool
1/oʊlˈɪmpɪk sˈaɪz pˈul/
fixed phrase
standard competition swimming pool
a very large pool used for competitions
Examples
- The new sports center has an Olympic-size pool.
- She trained in an Olympic-size pool to prepare for international meets.