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
And his struggles were major reasons why Detroit was taken to the wire by the 8-seed Magic, before the Cavaliers bested them in seven games in the East Semifinals.
—
John Cassillo,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Others attached electrical wire to sensors on the fingertips; the wire would eventually be routed to the robot’s brain.
—
Stephen Witt,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
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,
26 June 2026
The acknowledgement is long overdue, and comes just under the wire.
—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for the wire
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John Cassillo,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2026
Others attached electrical wire to sensors on the fingertips; the wire would eventually be routed to the robot’s brain.
—
Stephen Witt,
New Yorker,
29 June 2026
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,
26 June 2026
The acknowledgement is long overdue, and comes just under the wire.
—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
25 June 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 5 Jul. 2026.
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