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
The five teams in the No. 6 through 10 seeds remain separated by just 2.5 games, meaning every game down the stretch will be critical as Sacramento looks to avoid the play-in tournament by finishing No. 6 or higher.
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Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2025
Best was the gritty leader Mount Carmel needed Wednesday night when things got tough down the stretch.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025
Texas Tech coach Krista Gerlich spoke about her team’s struggles to take care of the ball down the stretch.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2025
When Curry returned for the stretch run, the Warriors led by 16.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the stretch
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Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2025
Best was the gritty leader Mount Carmel needed Wednesday night when things got tough down the stretch.
—Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 6 Mar. 2025
Texas Tech coach Krista Gerlich spoke about her team’s struggles to take care of the ball down the stretch.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2025
When Curry returned for the stretch run, the Warriors led by 16.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 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 17 Mar. 2025.
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