the stretch
noun
: the final straight part of a racecourse before the finish line
the horses are in the (final) stretch
—often used figurativelyShe'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
An intersection in East Boston has become a concern for residents who say the stretch of road is extremely confusing for drivers because one direction has a blinking red light and the other a blinking yellow.
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Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2025
But Thursday was far different than the previous two, which were winnable down the stretch.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 21 Nov. 2025
The defensive fronts the Chargers have to block down the stretch are concerning.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025
This season, their staff was missing one or two reliable options down the stretch, which forced the Red Sox to rely on young pitchers with the season on the line.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the stretch
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Mike Sullivan, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2025
But Thursday was far different than the previous two, which were winnable down the stretch.
—Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 21 Nov. 2025
The defensive fronts the Chargers have to block down the stretch are concerning.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025
This season, their staff was missing one or two reliable options down the stretch, which forced the Red Sox to rely on young pitchers with the season on the line.
—Zach Pressnell, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 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 24 Nov. 2025.
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