noun
podium
POH-dee-uhm
noun
1
A raised platform for a speaker, performer, or conductor to stand on.
"The conductor stepped onto the podium and raised his baton."
2
A stand that holds notes for someone giving a speech.
"He gripped the sides of the podium, visibly nervous."
3
The raised platform where the top three finishers of a competition stand to receive their medals; also used to mean a top-three finish itself.
"She stood on the podium after winning bronze."
"He's finished on the podium three races in a row."
How to Use Podium
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA raised stand for speaking or performing, or the platform (and by extension, a top-three finish) at a competition.
Common mistake
In American English "podium" is often used for the stand a speaker stands behind (technically a lectern), which is a common but widely accepted looseness.
Common pairings
step onto the podium
finish on the podium
award podium
Word Forms
podiumed past tense, podia plural, podiums plural, podiums singular
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The conductor stepped onto the _____ and raised his baton.
Etymology
From Latin podium, from Greek podion, "little foot," a diminutive of pous, "foot."