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
But the playoff matchup between these two came down to the wire, with Matthew Stafford nearly driving the Rams to a late go-ahead touchdown before a couple of huge plays by Philly DT Jalen Carter preserved the win.
—
Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
Get crystal clear on what comes after the wire hits your account.
—Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The wide, stretchy band creates a smooth fit that won’t dig in, while the wire-free design still provides light shaping and lift.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
This is probably your last chance to grab Tuten off the wire.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the wire
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Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025
Get crystal clear on what comes after the wire hits your account.
—Lien De Pau, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The wide, stretchy band creates a smooth fit that won’t dig in, while the wire-free design still provides light shaping and lift.
—Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
This is probably your last chance to grab Tuten off the wire.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Sep. 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 23 Sep. 2025.
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