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
Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let the cookies cool completely on the pan, about 20 minutes, then transfer from the pan to the wire rack.
—
The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
The University of Mary Washington and Emory University’s Division III national championship game came down to the wire.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2026
After Sunday’s five-goal fest in the Motor City, the team’s goal-scoring title is likely to come right down to the wire.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2026
Hold the flag at the top and press the wire into the soil without bending it.
—Nora Doonan, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the wire
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 Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
The University of Mary Washington and Emory University’s Division III national championship game came down to the wire.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2026
After Sunday’s five-goal fest in the Motor City, the team’s goal-scoring title is likely to come right down to the wire.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 6 Apr. 2026
Hold the flag at the top and press the wire into the soil without bending it.
—Nora Doonan, Hartford Courant, 4 Apr. 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 15 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
