photo finish

noun

Synonyms of photo finishnext
1
: a race or finish in which contestants are so close that a photograph of them as they cross the finish line has to be examined to determine the winner
2
: a close contest

Examples of photo finish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The race appears headed for a photo finish. Clayton Davis, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026 The good boy's sprint was caught by the photo finish camera. Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026 Four years ago in Beijing, Alessandro Hämmerle beat Éliot Grondin by a nose to win the snowboard cross gold in a photo finish. Chris Branch, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026 In speedskating, the Netherlands’ Xandra Velzeboer won gold in the women’s 500-meter final, and her countryman Jens van ’t Wout won gold in the men’s 1,000 meters in a thrilling photo finish. The Sports Desk, NBC news, 12 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for photo finish

Word History

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of photo finish was in 1935

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Photo finish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/photo%20finish. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

photo finish

noun
1
: a finish of a race in which contestants are so close that a photograph of them crossing the finish line has to be examined to decide the winner
2
: a close contest (as in an election)

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