the wire
noun
US
: a thin piece of string that the winner of a race breaks through at the end of the race
The marathon ended in a sprint to the wire by the two top runners.
—often used figurativelyThe election went/came (right) down to the wire.
Examples of the wire in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Talbert said Pooley could receive a maximum 20-year sentence and a $250,000 fine for each of the wire fraud charges and a mandatory two-year sentence for each of the identity theft charges.
—
Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 29 May 2024
Down to the wire @harryhiggs1991 shares the co-lead after an eagle hole-out on No. 18.
—Roy Inman, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2024
The injury apparently occurred as Charismatic strained toward the wire, apparently beaten, but trying to hold his position.
—Paul McCardell, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2024
The hook and the wire are stout, and the whole package comes together to create a great spinnerbait for targeting big bass at night.
—Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 23 May 2024
Once the wire harness breaks, the rearview camera can no longer operate, increasing the risk of collision of injury while backing up.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 15 May 2024
Jurors saw the wire transfer authorization form from Cohen's shell company, Essential Consultants LLC, to Keith Davidson's trust account for Stormy Daniels.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 6 May 2024
Mother's Day is just a few short days away -- Sunday, May 12 -- and gift-buying time is down to the wire.
—Kelsey Chapman, ABC News, 8 May 2024
After negotiations went down to the wire Sunday, Condé Nast has reached a tentative deal with a union representing hundreds of its workers and averted a strike that would have coincided with the Met Gala.
—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 May 2024
Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 29 May 2024
Down to the wire @harryhiggs1991 shares the co-lead after an eagle hole-out on No. 18.
—Roy Inman, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2024
The injury apparently occurred as Charismatic strained toward the wire, apparently beaten, but trying to hold his position.
—Paul McCardell, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2024
The hook and the wire are stout, and the whole package comes together to create a great spinnerbait for targeting big bass at night.
—Shaye Baker, Field & Stream, 23 May 2024
Once the wire harness breaks, the rearview camera can no longer operate, increasing the risk of collision of injury while backing up.
—Khristopher J. Brooks, CBS News, 15 May 2024
Jurors saw the wire transfer authorization form from Cohen's shell company, Essential Consultants LLC, to Keith Davidson's trust account for Stormy Daniels.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 6 May 2024
Mother's Day is just a few short days away -- Sunday, May 12 -- and gift-buying time is down to the wire.
—Kelsey Chapman, ABC News, 8 May 2024
After negotiations went down to the wire Sunday, Condé Nast has reached a tentative deal with a union representing hundreds of its workers and averted a strike that would have coincided with the Met Gala.
—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'the wire.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near the wire
Cite this Entry
“The wire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20wire. Accessed 10 Jun. 2024.
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