: full of suspense
especially : unsettled until the very end

Examples of down-to-the-wire in a Sentence

a down-to-the-wire contest for the pennant
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Skokie’s election season did not end on Election Day, and a district trustee declared victory in a down-to-the-wire finish almost two weeks after the polls closed. Richard Requena, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2025 Unfortunately, for those of us who love down-to-the-wire drama, most of the major domestic leagues have very little to play for. Brett Koremenos, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025 Following her nose to a funeral where Arthur has managed to convince the dithering family to cremate rather than go with burial, Elsbeth has her most down-to-the-wire crime-proving moment yet. Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025 The Quad 3 loss was the second such defeat of the season for the Huskies, who suffered a similar down-to-the-wire loss to Colorado in the second game of the Maui Invitational in November. Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for down-to-the-wire

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of down-to-the-wire was in 1930

Cite this Entry

“Down-to-the-wire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/down-to-the-wire. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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