neck and neck

adverb or adjective

: very close (as in a race)

Synonyms of neck and neck

• narrow
• close

Examples of neck and neck in a Sentence

a neck and neck finish in which only a fraction of a second separated the winner from the runner-up

Recent Examples on the Web

Local income took the lead again in 2021; was neck and neck with overseas revenue in 2022; but fell behind again in 2023 when overseas pulled in a 51% share. —Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2025

Less than two weeks before the election was held, on November 5, 2024, when polls showed the race neck and neck, the Post’s editorial board wrote the newspaper’s endorsement. —Jimmy Wales, Fortune, 28 Oct. 2025

Despite entering this season with baseball’s second-highest payroll, neck and neck with the New York Mets, the Dodgers also have one of the best farm systems in MLB. —Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 23 Oct. 2025

Beyoncé and Taylor Swift remain neck and neck in MTV Video Music Awards history after Lady Gaga won the artist of the year award for 2025. —Caché McClay, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for neck and neck

• biotech
• bottleneck
• quarterdeck
• turtleneck
• zapotec
• aztec
• breakneck
• codec
• exec
• mixtec
• paycheck
• pinchbeck

Kids Definition

neck and neck

adverb or adjective

: very close (as in a race)