the stretch
noun
: the final straight part of a racecourse before the finish line
the horses are in the (final) stretch
—often used figurativelyShe's in the final stretch. The baby's due next month.
They will wind up the season with a winning record having won some crucial games down the stretch.
Examples of the stretch in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Running with authority down the stretch, Hit Show rolled home ahead of some of the world’s best race horses at odds of 50 to 1.
—
Danny Brewer,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
That nine year window overlaps almost exactly with the stretch when treatment offers the most protection for brain health, so the delay carries real cost.
—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 July 2026
The Canucks had a good thing going down the stretch, with a variety of players stepping up for their teammates and standing up for one another.
—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
1 July 2026
These large-range movements keep your body moving through the stretch, shortening and lengthening your muscles.
—
Hannah Harper,
Health,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for the stretch
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.
Danny Brewer,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2026
That nine year window overlaps almost exactly with the stretch when treatment offers the most protection for brain health, so the delay carries real cost.
—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 July 2026
The Canucks had a good thing going down the stretch, with a variety of players stepping up for their teammates and standing up for one another.
—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
1 July 2026
These large-range movements keep your body moving through the stretch, shortening and lengthening your muscles.
—
Hannah Harper,
Health,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for the stretch
Cite this Entry
“The stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20stretch. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
