athlete
noun
ath·lete
ˈath-ˌlēt 
nonstandard
ˈa-thə-ˌlēt
1
: a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina
2
: an animal (such as a horse or a dog) that competes in races or other sporting events or has qualities (such as stamina and agility) suggestive of a human athlete
Hospice working dogs were wiry, muscular, agile, yellowish-tan or brown athletes with unexaggerated heads …—
Deborah Lawson
Deborah LawsonExamples of athlete in a Sentence
Athletes from around the world will be competing at the Olympics.
She was quite an athlete as a child.
Recent Examples on the Web
His answer wasn’t what most executives, entrepreneurs, or elite athletes typically say.
—Don Yaeger, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
The rookie was named the NIL Store’s top-earning female athlete in 2024 and has partnered with brands like Nike, Verizon, Bose, CeraVe and Gatorade.
—Hannah Vanbiber, New York Times, 20 July 2025
The pattern of athletes' homes burglarized while they were publicly scheduled elsewhere includes Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, and NBA stars Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers and Mike Conley Jr. of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
—Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 July 2025
Following a 2021 Supreme Court ruling, student athletes have been allowed to profit from their publicity with sponsorship deals.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for athlete
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Don Yaeger, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
The rookie was named the NIL Store’s top-earning female athlete in 2024 and has partnered with brands like Nike, Verizon, Bose, CeraVe and Gatorade.
—Hannah Vanbiber, New York Times, 20 July 2025
The pattern of athletes' homes burglarized while they were publicly scheduled elsewhere includes Kansas City Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, and NBA stars Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers and Mike Conley Jr. of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
—Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 July 2025
Following a 2021 Supreme Court ruling, student athletes have been allowed to profit from their publicity with sponsorship deals.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for athlete
Cite this Entry
“Athlete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/athlete. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
athlete
noun
ath·lete
ˈath-ˌlēt
: a person who is trained in or good at games and exercises that require physical skill, endurance, and strength
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