# Olympic

/oʊˈɫɪmpɪk/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/olympic
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. the sports games

adjective · CEFR B1

relating to the Olympic Games, which happen every four years.

For teachers: pertaining to the modern or ancient Olympic Games. Usually non-gradable and placed before the noun.

- She has been training hard to qualify for the Olympic swimming team.
- The city invested billions in infrastructure to prepare for the Olympic opening ceremony and the subsequent influx of international tourists.

Usage: Always capitalized in this sense.

### 2. very large or great

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

used to describe something that is very big, powerful, or impressive.

For teachers: denoting a quality or scale that is exceptionally large or powerful. Often used for emphasis in informal contexts.

- The project was a failure of Olympic proportions.
- The CEO's ego was of Olympic proportions, making it nearly impossible for the board to suggest any changes to his strategy.

### 3. godlike or detached

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary

acting like a god or staying away from small, everyday problems.

For teachers: characteristic of the Greek gods on Mount Olympus; specifically, being detached or superior to petty human concerns.

- The professor watched the students' argument with Olympic calm.
- He maintained an Olympic detachment from the office politics, refusing to engage in the gossip that consumed his colleagues.

### 4. the games

noun · CEFR B1

a short way to say the Olympic Games.

For teachers: the Olympic Games themselves. Usually used in the plural form.

- Winning gold at the Olympics is the dream of every athlete.
- The Olympics serve as a unique platform where global political tensions are often played out through athletic competition.

## Examples

- She dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal one day.
- The city spent billions of dollars building new stadiums and transport links for the Olympic events.
- The athlete's performance was described as Olympic in its intensity, setting a new standard for future competitors in the field.

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