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 New York Mets were two wins shy of reaching the 2024 World Series largely because of how well their starting rotation performed down the stretch.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
That means a lot of work is in store for Collins, who will come in as the undisputed No. 1 wide receiver for the Texans down the stretch.
—Jesse Reed, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
The last death was in 2019 in the Classic when Mongolian Groom broke down at the top of the stretch.
—John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024
The Clippers did none of those things down the stretch.
—Janis Carr, Orange County Register, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for the stretch 
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.
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
That means a lot of work is in store for Collins, who will come in as the undisputed No. 1 wide receiver for the Texans down the stretch.
—Jesse Reed, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
The last death was in 2019 in the Classic when Mongolian Groom broke down at the top of the stretch.
—John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024
The Clippers did none of those things down the stretch.
—Janis Carr, Orange County Register, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for the stretch
Dictionary Entries Near the stretch
Cite this Entry
“The stretch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20stretch. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share