athlete
athlete
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "athlete" is /ˈæθ.liːt/.
Here's the breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
First syllable (/æθ/):
/æ/ - as in the "a" in "cat"
/θ/ - as in the "th" in "thin"
Second syllable (/liːt/):
/l/ - as in the "l" in "lion"
/iː/ - as in the "ee" in "feet"
/t/ - as in the "t" in "top"
Word Form Variations
Singular noun: athlete
Plural noun: athletes
Adjective: athletic
Adverb: athletically
Noun (related concept): athletics
Definitions, Synonyms, Antonyms
1. Eagle (Noun)
Definition: A large, strong bird of prey with a powerful hooked beak and strong talons, noted for its soaring flight and keen eyesight.
Synonyms: raptor, bird of prey, hawk (general term), vulture, falcon
Antonyms: prey (animals hunted by eagles), small bird, flightless bird
2. Eagle (Verb)
Definition: To hunt or capture with an eagle.
Synonyms: to hunt, to prey on, toDefinitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
athlete (singular)
A person who regularly participates in physical exercises, sports, or games, often for competition, and typically demonstrates a high level of strength, endurance, or skill in their chosen activity.
Synonyms: sportsman, sportswoman, competitor, jock (informal), gymnast, runner, swimmer, player
Antonyms: couch potato, idler, non-participant, spectator
An individual who embodies the characteristics of physical prowess, discipline, and dedication often associated with professional sports, even if not formally competing.
Synonyms: physical specimen, powerhouse, contender
Antonyms: weakling, amateur (in terms of dedication)
athletes (plural)
A group of individuals who engage in sports or physical competition, often as a team or representing a particular institution.
Synonyms: team, squad, competitors, players
Antonyms: audience, fans, spectators seize, to snatch
Antonyms: to release, to free, to liberate
3. Eagling (Noun)
Definition: A young eagle.
Synonyms: eaglet, nestling (general term for a young bird)
Antonyms: adult eagle, mature eagle
Examples of Use
Books: "The story followed the journey of a young track athlete from a small town who dreamed of competing in the Olympics."
Newspapers: "Kenyan athletes dominated the marathon, securing the top three finishes in a thrilling race." ( The Daily Nation)
Online Publications: "How a plant-based diet is changing the performance of elite athletes worldwide." (Men's Health online)
Entertainment Mediums (Film): In the movie Chariots of Fire, Harold Abrahams is portrayed as a driven Jewish athlete facing antisemitism on his path to Olympic glory.
Entertainment Platforms (Podcast): "This week on the podcast, we interview a former professional basketball athlete about their transition to coaching."
General Public Discourse: "My son has always been a natural athlete; he excels at every sport he tries."
General Public Discourse: "To be a successful athlete, you need more than just talent; you need discipline and mental toughness."
10 Quotes Using Athlete
"An athlete cannot run with money in his pockets. He must run with hope in his heart and dreams in his head." (Emil Zatopek)
"When you reach that elite level, 90 percent is mental and 10 percent is physical. You are competing against yourself. Not against the other athlete." (Dick Fosbury)
"Whatever luck I had, I made. I was never a natural athlete, but I paid my dues in sweat and concentration and took the time necessary to learn karate and become world champion." (Chuck Norris)
"Every professional athlete owes a debt of gratitude to the fans and management, and pays an installment every time he plays." (Bobby Hull)
"Somewhere behind the athlete you've become and the hours of practice and the coaches who have pushed you is a little girl who fell in love with the game and never looked back play for her." (Mia Hamm)
"To be a top-class athlete, you have to train hard, you have to eat right, you have to get enough rest. I feel the way golf is going nowadays, you have to treat yourself as an athlete." (Rory McIlroy)
"I see myself a rock star. I play hard to win. I see myself a warrior. I battle the challenges ahead. I am the renegade. I walk through the sleepless nights. I am a legend. A legend you want to be. A legend you want to follow. I am an athlete." (Dina Husseini)
"As a professional athlete, part of my job is to make sure I'm consuming high quality nutrients." (Christen Press)
"The only one who can tell you 'you can't win' is you and you don't have to listen." (Jessica Ennis-Hill)
"Honestly, it's not the medals that I feel so proud of. It's the way I conducted myself as an athlete, the hard work that I put forward." (Kyle Shewfelt)
Etymology
The word "athlete" has a rich history that goes all the way back to Ancient Greece. It essentially means "one who competes for a prize."
Origin: The word comes from the Greek word "athlētēs" (ἀθλητὴς).
Meaning in Greek: "Athlētēs" meant "prizefighter" or "contestant in the games." This Greek word itself came from "athlein" (ἀθλεῖν), which meant "to contend for a prize," and ultimately from "áthlos" (ἄθλος) or "áthlon" (ἄθλον), meaning "a contest" or "a prize." So, right from its roots, the word was about competition and winning.
First Known Use and Meaning: In English, the word "athlete" appeared in the early 15th century (specifically, before 1425, in a text by Guy de Chauliac). At that time, its meaning was very much tied to its Greek origin: "a competitor in athletic games and contests," often specifically referring to a wrestler or combatant in public games.
So, in simple terms, "athlete" started out as a word for someone who entered contests to win prizes, and that core meaning of a physically competitive person has stuck with it for centuries.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Athlete
Natural athlete: Someone who is innately gifted at sports or physical activities.
Student athlete: A person who balances academic pursuits with athletic competition, common in educational institutions.
Weekend athlete: An amateur who participates in sports or physical activities primarily on weekends for recreation.
Be built like an athlete: To have a strong, muscular, and well-proportioned physique.
Train like an athlete: To engage in rigorous and disciplined physical training, similar to a professional competitor.
An athlete's foot: (Literal, but a common phrase referring to a fungal infection).
The heart of an athlete: Possessing exceptional determination, courage, and competitive spirit.
A true athlete never quits: Emphasizing perseverance and resilience.
Athlete's high: The feeling of euphoria and well-being experienced after intense physical exertion (a play on "runner's high").
To go pro (as an athlete): To become a professional in a sport.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of athlete from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
