dead heat

noun

: a tie with no single winner of a race
broadly : tie

Examples of dead heat in a Sentence

the horses crossed the finish line in a dead heat
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.
Two polls released over the weekend suggest their races could be tightening—with one poll showing Sherrill and Ciattarelli locked in a dead heat. Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025 At the time, the match was in a dead heat with the third set tied 5-5 after Sabalenka lost three straight games to Pegula. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2025 In recent seasons, the rivalry has been a dead heat, with each program claiming two victories in the last fourmeetings. Clark Fahrenthold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2025 As of today the Red Sox and Tigers have the same record, so if Detroit loses its series to Cleveland and falls out of first place in the AL Central, the two clubs could conceivably be in a dead heat for one of the last Wild Card spots. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 22 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for dead heat

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dead heat was in 1796

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dead heat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dead%20heat. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

dead heat

noun
: a contest in which two or more competitors tie

More from Merriam-Webster on dead heat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!