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
Tilt the wire 30 degrees toward the exterior.
—
Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 18 May 2026
Pedrico won 7-6, 6-1, 6-2 over Abel Forager to put the Horned Frogs one point from victory, but the match would come down to the wire and a dramatic comeback from the Longhorns.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2026
Part of the genius of the very minimalist String shelving is that the wire brackets are attached to the wall with a single, visible screw on each corner.
—Rachel Fletcher, Architectural Digest, 14 May 2026
Synergy said the wire was in no way caused by the operation of the ship.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for the wire
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Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 18 May 2026
Pedrico won 7-6, 6-1, 6-2 over Abel Forager to put the Horned Frogs one point from victory, but the match would come down to the wire and a dramatic comeback from the Longhorns.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2026
Part of the genius of the very minimalist String shelving is that the wire brackets are attached to the wall with a single, visible screw on each corner.
—Rachel Fletcher, Architectural Digest, 14 May 2026
Synergy said the wire was in no way caused by the operation of the ship.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 12 May 2026
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 20 May. 2026.
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