photo finish

noun

1
: a race or finish in which contestants are so close that a photograph of them as they cross the finish line has to be examined to determine the winner
2
: a close contest

Examples of photo finish in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Their endurance elimination ended in an extremely confusing photo finish, and host TJ Lavin announced that Derrick beat Horacio. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 5 Sep. 2024 Hector Vivas / Getty Images The race was so close that even the commentators nearly called the wrong winner before the photo finish, which showed Lyles first to lean over the finish line even as others managed to step over it before him. Josh Feldman, NBC News, 4 Aug. 2024 The stakes couldn’t be higher in a race that shows ample signs of a photo finish on Nov. 5. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2024 Noah Lyles wins gold in epic photo finish Dimitar Dilkoff / AFP - Getty Images Lyles earned his first gold medal in 9.79 seconds, which was a personal best. Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 5 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for photo finish 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'photo finish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of photo finish was in 1935

Dictionary Entries Near photo finish

Cite this Entry

“Photo finish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/photo%20finish. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

photo finish

noun
1
: a finish of a race in which contestants are so close that a photograph of them crossing the finish line has to be examined to decide the winner
2
: a close contest (as in an election)

More from Merriam-Webster on photo finish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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