neck and neck

adverb or adjective

: very close (as in a race)

Examples of neck and neck in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Joy Randolph for Best Supporting Actress, Robert Downey Jr. for Best Supporting Actor, and Oppenheimer for Best Picture), I'm riveted by the Best Actress category, which seems to be neck and neck between Emma Stone (Poor Things) and Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon). Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 10 Mar. 2024 The challenge ended up becoming a brutal mission for all three tribes, who were neck and neck for the win. Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 7 Mar. 2024 In Assembly seat 15, Anamaria Avila Farias was neck and neck with Sonia Ledo in the race to replace outgoing California State Assemblymember Tim Grayson, according to early results immediately after the polls closed Tuesday. Will McCarthy, The Mercury News, 6 Mar. 2024 Polls show the two are neck and neck in the hypothetical contest, with Trump leading Biden by 1.3 points, according to Real Clear Politics’ polling average, while both candidates continue to post relatively high unfavorability ratings. Sara Dorn, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 The fact that the two start off neck and neck measures how much Trump’s character and behavior weigh him down. Improving views of the economy Voter concerns over Trump’s fitness for office won’t go away. David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 2 Feb. 2024 Red Bull’s other driver, Sergio Perez, started the season neck and neck with Verstappen, but after a poor stretch, Hamilton has closed the gap to 19 points, eating eight more out of his lead Sunday. Sahil Kapur, NBC News, 22 Oct. 2023 But the race for second place — between Democratic Rep. Katie Porter and GOP front-runner Steve Garvey — is neck and neck, a recent poll shows. Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2024 The two companies, famous competitors since the dawn of the computing revolution half a century ago, have been neck and neck for the top spot in corporate America since the beginning of the year. Paolo Confino, Fortune, 24 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'neck and neck.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of neck and neck was in 1672

Dictionary Entries Near neck and neck

Cite this Entry

“Neck and neck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neck%20and%20neck. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

neck and neck

adverb or adjective
: very close (as in a race)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!