A2noun2K

Athlete

UK /["/ˈæθliːt/"]/US /["/ˈæθliːt/"]/

Definition

a person who competes in sports

In simple words: A person who is very good at sports or physical activities.

Examples

  • The athlete won the gold medal in the race.
  • As an athlete, she trains every day to improve her skills.
  • Becoming a professional athlete requires dedication and hard work.
  • The new athlete in our team has shown great promise.
  • Many athlete documentaries inspire young people to pursue sports.

Usage notes

This term is commonly used in both everyday and sports contexts. It can refer to anyone participating in physical competitions or training. It’s generally not suitable for casual, non-competitive activities.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Think of 'at-least' as being good at something — an athlete is someone who is at least good at sports!

Collocations

  • elite
  • fine
  • good
  • train
  • compete
  • perform
  • elite
  • fine
  • good
  • train
  • compete
  • perform
  • elite
  • fine
  • good
  • train
  • compete
  • perform

Synonyms

  • sportsman
  • competitor
  • jock
  • player

Antonyms

  • non-athlete
  • amateur

Common mistakes

  • Confusing 'athlete' with 'athletics' — remember, 'athlete' is the person, 'athletics' is the sport.
  • Using 'athlete' only for professional sports — it also applies to amateurs.
  • Mispronouncing it — it should not sound like 'athalet'.