checkered flag
noun
plural checkered flags
auto racing
: a flag marked by alternating black and white squares that is waved at the finish line to signal the end of a race
Driving with a clear head and a deft right foot rather than an anxious heart, he slid into the lead three laps from the checkered flag …—
Sam Moses
Sam MosesIn one race weekend Andretti had run the gamut—he had been fast qualifier, he had driven at a steady pace in the first 11 hours and he had won a final, desperate sprint to the checkered flag.—Kim Chapin
Kim ChapinHe took the checkered flag [=crossed the finish line in first place] at California Speedway on Sept. 4 to become the youngest driver in the 56-year history of the Cup series to win a race …—Lars Anderson
Lars AndersonExamples of checkered flag in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The pattern that was chosen was inspired by a motor sport checkered flag.
—Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
Richter was in both Blades Of Glory and Talladega Nights, which would explain the ice skate and checkered flag, and his sidekick work on the various Conan shows has placed him firmly in the path of all manner of celebrities.
—Marah Eakin, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2024
Your Top 10 following Stage 2: Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr., Todd Gilliland, Ryan Preece, Brad Keselowski, John Hunter Nemechek, William Byron, Daniel Hemric and Josh Berry.
Stage 2
Lap 30: Denny Hamlin takes the green and white checkered flag and wins Stage 2!
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2024
The Mini's cockpit is filled with funky details, like an enormous circular infotainment display and checkered flags incorporated into the speedometer.
—Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 18 Feb. 2023
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Eileen Falkenberg-Hull, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025
Richter was in both Blades Of Glory and Talladega Nights, which would explain the ice skate and checkered flag, and his sidekick work on the various Conan shows has placed him firmly in the path of all manner of celebrities.
—Marah Eakin, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2024
Your Top 10 following Stage 2: Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr., Todd Gilliland, Ryan Preece, Brad Keselowski, John Hunter Nemechek, William Byron, Daniel Hemric and Josh Berry.
Stage 2
Lap 30: Denny Hamlin takes the green and white checkered flag and wins Stage 2!
—Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 24 Mar. 2024
The Mini's cockpit is filled with funky details, like an enormous circular infotainment display and checkered flags incorporated into the speedometer.
—Eric Stafford, Car and Driver, 18 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Checkered flag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/checkered%20flag. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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