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
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His race against Gilgeous-Alexander for a fourth MVP crown might be hurtling toward a photo finish. Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 11 Mar. 2025 With those tight margins, the outcome is poised to be a photo finish. Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 1 Apr. 2025 But part one of that plan — moving the bill out of the House — will be a photo finish for Johnson. Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 11 Mar. 2025 Fords make up nine of the first 10 starting positions for the Cup Series race at the track that produced an epic three-wide photo finish a season ago. Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 23 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for photo finish

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

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Cite this Entry

“Photo finish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/photo%20finish. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

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

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