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
The Broncos do not want to be leading by two or less when this thing comes down to the wire.
—
Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
If Hall jerked too violently, let alone tried to run, the wire would pull the trigger, firing the shotgun Kiritsis had pointed at the back of Hall’s head.
—Katie Rife, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025
One end of the wire was connected to the trigger; the other end was wrapped around Hall’s neck.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
Lengthening his stride under jockey Umberto Rispoli, this Man looked quite Formidable with the wire drawing ever closer.
—Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the wire
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Joe Nguyen, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2025
If Hall jerked too violently, let alone tried to run, the wire would pull the trigger, firing the shotgun Kiritsis had pointed at the back of Hall’s head.
—Katie Rife, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2025
One end of the wire was connected to the trigger; the other end was wrapped around Hall’s neck.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
Lengthening his stride under jockey Umberto Rispoli, this Man looked quite Formidable with the wire drawing ever closer.
—Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
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 10 Sep. 2025.
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