neck and neck

adverb or adjective

: very close (as in a race)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Rudd is neck and neck with Robert Downey Jr. for highest quippiness quotient of any Marvel star. —

Mark Feeney, BostonGlobe.com, 15 Feb. 2023 The two teams, which split during the regular season, were neck and neck through most of the game. —

al, 7 Feb. 2023 Two teams have been neck and neck for No. 1 countless times in the long history of the USA TODAY Sports NCAA Re-Rank 1-131. —

Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 10 Oct. 2022 Harry’s House was neck and neck with Midnights, and secured nearly 32% of votes, a difference of only 22 votes. —

Starr Bowenbank, Billboard, 5 Jan. 2023 Cincinnati is neck and neck with the Ravens for the No. 1 spot in the AFC North. —

Kelsey Conway, The Enquirer, 8 Dec. 2022 And yet: The runoff election was necessary only because in the general election back in November, Walker and Warnock were neck and neck, each one winning nearly 2 million votes. —

Monica Hesse, Washington Post, 7 Dec. 2022 An internal poll released by Heroux’s campaign found the two are neck and neck. —

Alexander Thompson, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Nov. 2022 Recent polling shows the two are neck and neck heading into the election in November. —

Dallas News, 1 Sep. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'neck and neck.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1672, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of neck and neck was in 1672

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Neck and neck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neck%20and%20neck. Accessed 24 Mar. 2023.

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