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
With the race for speaker of the Texas House coming down to the wire, the Republican-on-Republican war deepens.
—
John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
The Royals could take it right down to the wire at the trade deadline.
—Kansas City Star, 25 July 2025
In either case, at least Emira finally has a conflict story line brewing this season — just under the wire!
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 16 July 2025
As the wire drew closer, Gosger saw his lead diminish as the powerful and far more experienced Journalism dug deep.
—Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for the wire
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John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
The Royals could take it right down to the wire at the trade deadline.
—Kansas City Star, 25 July 2025
In either case, at least Emira finally has a conflict story line brewing this season — just under the wire!
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 16 July 2025
As the wire drew closer, Gosger saw his lead diminish as the powerful and far more experienced Journalism dug deep.
—Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 13 July 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 5 Aug. 2025.
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