the stretch

noun

: the final straight part of a racecourse before the finish line

the horses are in the (final) stretch

—often used figuratively

She's in the final stretch. The baby's due next month.

They will wind up the season with a winning record having won some crucial games down the stretch.

Examples of the stretch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And the extreme pressure and friction of the move compresses the air molecules in front of Starship, creating a glowing plasma that is the signature of the stretch of flight known as reentry. —Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025

So is Harrison Bader, who was great for the Phillies down the stretch, and Nick Castellanos is the most obvious trade candidate anywhere this offseason. —Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025

Hold the stretch for 30 seconds, keeping your back and shoulders relaxed. —Jakob Roze, Health, 14 Oct. 2025

His biggest moment by far was his extra-innings walk-off against the Athletics that helped keep the Red Sox in playoff position down the stretch. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 14 Oct. 2025

Rhymes for the stretch

• etch
• fetch
• fletch
• ketch
• sketch
• vetch
• wretch