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
Authorities with the Raleigh Police Department responded to Swinson’s home in March 2023 to question him regarding the wire transfer.
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Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 18 June 2024
Bury the wire mesh at least 6 inches deep and fan it out to the front another 12 inches, then cover it with dirt.
—Michael Harrelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2024
Wrap one end around the other to form a wreath, then cover the wire ends with a pretty pastel ribbon and hang.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 May 2024
The hole in the skull that lets the wire through is prone to infection, though, and Blackrock Neurotech in Salt Lake City is working on a fully implantable upgrade.
—Christina Jewett, New York Times, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for the wire 
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 18 June 2024
Bury the wire mesh at least 6 inches deep and fan it out to the front another 12 inches, then cover it with dirt.
—Michael Harrelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2024
Wrap one end around the other to form a wreath, then cover the wire ends with a pretty pastel ribbon and hang.
—Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 May 2024
The hole in the skull that lets the wire through is prone to infection, though, and Blackrock Neurotech in Salt Lake City is working on a fully implantable upgrade.
—Christina Jewett, New York Times, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for the wire
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 2 Jul. 2024.
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