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
Deadline additions General Manager Pat Verbeek let his decision to sell or stand pat go down to the wire last season with the Ducks on the fringe of the playoff race as the trade deadline approached.
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Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 24 Feb. 2026
This far into the academic year, some education insiders said, connecting students with devices shouldn’t have come down to the wire, when schools were already on recess.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2026
Kyaw Klay and Paw La then sold the wire to recycling facilities, including Dem-Con Metal Recycling in Blaine, the informant said.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 18 Feb. 2026
Deciding set goes down to the wire With the title on the line, the third set stayed tight until 5‑all.
—J.d. Miles, CBS News, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the wire
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Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 24 Feb. 2026
This far into the academic year, some education insiders said, connecting students with devices shouldn’t have come down to the wire, when schools were already on recess.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2026
Kyaw Klay and Paw La then sold the wire to recycling facilities, including Dem-Con Metal Recycling in Blaine, the informant said.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 18 Feb. 2026
Deciding set goes down to the wire With the title on the line, the third set stayed tight until 5‑all.
—J.d. Miles, CBS News, 15 Feb. 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 2 Mar. 2026.
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