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
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.
But a classic lobster shack on the stretch of coastline from Maine to Connecticut will make for a scenic backdrop that’s hard to beat. Terry Ward, CNN Money, 15 Nov. 2025 Texas quarterback Arch Manning enters Athens riding momentum after showing clear improvement, but Saturday’s trip to Georgia is the test that will tell whether those improvements can carry the Longhorns through the stretch run. Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Nov. 2025 Freshman forward Omer Suljanovic had 13 points and Wilson, the hero down the stretch, had 12. Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 15 Nov. 2025 The Bengals are 3-6 and need to get hot down the stretch to give themselves a chance at making the playoffs. Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 14 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for the stretch

Cite this Entry

“The stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20stretch. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.

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