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.
An Emerson College poll in September showed the race in a dead heat at 43%. Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2025 New Jersey Democrat Mikie Sherrill, meanwhile, is in a dead heat against Republican Jack Ciattarelli based on recent polling in that race. Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025 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 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 2 Nov. 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
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