down-to-the-wire

adjective

ˈdau̇n-tə-ṯhə-ˈwī(-ə)r

Synonyms of down-to-the-wire next

: full of suspense

especially : unsettled until the very end

Examples of down-to-the-wire in a Sentence

a down-to-the-wire contest for the pennant

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.

So, what’s another down-to-the-wire finish for this team? —

Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 30 Jan. 2025 Following Kansas City's win over the Buffalo Bills in a down-to-the-wire matchup on Sunday, Jan. 26, Swift and Kelce, both 35, were seen exiting the game through the tunnels at Arrowhead Stadium. —

Natasha Dye, People.com, 27 Jan. 2025 With two elite quarterbacks, top-tier offenses, and strong defenses, this game has all the ingredients for a down-to-the-wire finish. —

Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 26 Jan. 2025 The first round was a letdown, but then came an instant classic Texas-Arizona State Peach Bowl, two down-to-the-wire semifinals and a big-brand championship game that wasn’t officially over until the final 30 seconds. —

Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for down-to-the-wire

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of down-to-the-wire was in 1930

See more words from the same year

Dictionary Entries Near down-to-the-wire

down to the smallest/last/tiniest detail

down-to-the-wire

downtown

See More Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

Style

“Down-to-the-wire.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/down-to-the-wire. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

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