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

Naperville residents who’ve been unable to use Book Road for most of the year will see a little relief once the stretch between 75th and 83rd streets reopens by month’s end. — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026

The Lycra® VintageFX fiber shrinks under heat during finishing and protects the Lycra® fiber in the core, absorbing some of the stress put on the stretch material. — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026

The redesign is taking place while the MTA reconstructs the Grand Central Train Shed, which is directly below the stretch of Park Avenue that'll be part of the redesign. — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

The victor will establish solid footing in a divisional race that’s likely to be decided down the stretch. — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Rhymes for the stretch

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