Word
maroon
Phoneticsma·roon, stress on the second syllable
US/mɝˈun/
UK/məɹˈuːn/
Definition
v. to leave someone alone in a place they cannot escape from, like a desert island. It is often used in stories about sailors or explorers.
v. to leave someone trapped in an isolated place, such as an island, with little hope of escape. Often carries a nautical or historical connotation.
Examples
“The pirates decided to maroon their captain on a tiny island.”
“After the ship sank, the survivors were marooned on a remote coast for three weeks before help arrived.”
“The novel explores the psychological breakdown of a sailor marooned by his mutinous crew, forced to survive on a barren rock with nothing but his wits.”
Examples
simple
“The pirates decided to maroon their captain on a tiny island.”
contextual
“After the ship sank, the survivors were marooned on a remote coast for three weeks before help arrived.”
complex
“The novel explores the psychological breakdown of a sailor marooned by his mutinous crew, forced to survive on a barren rock with nothing but his wits.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, usually a person.
Real-World Examples
“Some survivors are marooned on top of buildings that rescue workers can’t reach.” “You’re lucky I wasn’t on the service that day.”
Nathanial, 10, wore a dark suit and maroon tie and sat on a gold couch aside his father and Trump.” Etymology
From French marron (“feral; fugitive”, adjective), from Spanish cimarrón (“fugitive, wild, feral”); see that entry for more.
Etymology tree Byzantine Greek μάραον (máraon)bor. Italian marronebor. French marronbor. English maroon From earlier marone, marron, borrowed from French marron (“chestnut; brown”). Compare Spanish marrón. Doublet of marron (“sweet chestnut”).
Unknown. Possibly related to the sense “castaway” (etymology 1), or owing to the fact that the color of a fired flare was commonly red (etymology 2).
From an intentional mispronunciation of the word moron used by the cartoon character Bugs Bunny.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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