the wire
noun
US
: a thin piece of string that the winner of a race breaks through at the end of the race
The marathon ended in a sprint to the wire by the two top runners.
—often used figurativelyThe election went/came (right) down to the wire.
Examples of the wire in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The way the season has gone for all three teams points to the NFC West crown coming down to the wire.
—
James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
The left side of the concrete beads gradient from gray to black and back to gray before the ends of the wire show through the right side of the work.
—Mario Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
The last time these schools met was in the 2024 Vocational (Small) Bowl, which came down to the wire (36-30 in favor of Tri-County).
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Finally, take a final measurement to confirm symmetry, and do a quick test to ensure the wire is tight and secure.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the wire
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James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
The left side of the concrete beads gradient from gray to black and back to gray before the ends of the wire show through the right side of the work.
—Mario Rodriguez, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
The last time these schools met was in the 2024 Vocational (Small) Bowl, which came down to the wire (36-30 in favor of Tri-County).
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Finally, take a final measurement to confirm symmetry, and do a quick test to ensure the wire is tight and secure.
—Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the wire
Cite this Entry
“The wire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20wire. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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