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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Joe Won a nostril ahead in a photo finish to complete a wire-to-wire victory. 
San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Sep. 2022 In 1937, in a preemptive move, the hospital’s X-ray department rigged cameras to settle any dispute of a photo finish. Mike Klingaman, Baltimore Sun, 4 Aug. 2022 In boys competition, Auburn’s Max Hardin won in a photo finish with South teammate Michael Conwell of St. Paul’s with an All-Star Week record 15:45.13. Al.com Reports, al, 19 July 2022 The results proved to be a photo finish for all seven elementary schools in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District, whose parent-teacher associations will each receive about $1,500 in race proceeds, which totaled about $10,000. Thomas Jewell, cleveland, 18 May 2022 Kingston clinched the 100m crown in a dramatic photo finish, clocking in at 10.53 seconds just ahead of Hagen and BYU target Smith Snowden of Skyridge. The Salt Lake Tribune, 22 May 2022 Miami Columbus edged the ‘Noles by two hundredths of a second in a photo finish. Buddy Collings, Orlando Sentinel, 15 May 2022 Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon is causing ‘havoc and mayhem,’ and the recall effort will be a 'photo finish,' deputy DA says. Fox News, 29 Apr. 2022 Marche Lorraine edged Dunbar Road by a nose, with the crowd anxiously waiting out the photo finish in the Distaff. Beth Harris, ajc, 6 Nov. 2021 See More
San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Sep. 2022 In 1937, in a preemptive move, the hospital’s X-ray department rigged cameras to settle any dispute of a photo finish. Mike Klingaman, Baltimore Sun, 4 Aug. 2022 In boys competition, Auburn’s Max Hardin won in a photo finish with South teammate Michael Conwell of St. Paul’s with an All-Star Week record 15:45.13. Al.com Reports, al, 19 July 2022 The results proved to be a photo finish for all seven elementary schools in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District, whose parent-teacher associations will each receive about $1,500 in race proceeds, which totaled about $10,000. Thomas Jewell, cleveland, 18 May 2022 Kingston clinched the 100m crown in a dramatic photo finish, clocking in at 10.53 seconds just ahead of Hagen and BYU target Smith Snowden of Skyridge. The Salt Lake Tribune, 22 May 2022 Miami Columbus edged the ‘Noles by two hundredths of a second in a photo finish. Buddy Collings, Orlando Sentinel, 15 May 2022 Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascon is causing ‘havoc and mayhem,’ and the recall effort will be a 'photo finish,' deputy DA says. Fox News, 29 Apr. 2022 Marche Lorraine edged Dunbar Road by a nose, with the crowd anxiously waiting out the photo finish in the Distaff. Beth Harris, ajc, 6 Nov. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
1935, in the meaning defined at sense 1
photo finish
noun
1
as in hair-raiser
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- hair-raiser
- thriller
- suspenser
- squeaker
- cliff-hanger
- nail-biter
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- blowout
- yawner
2
as in dead heat
Synonyms & Similar Words
- dead heat
- rubber
- sudden death
- runoff
- seesaw
- field day
- volley
- classic
- race
- marathon
- heat
- round
- rally
- run
- round-robin
- open
- pentathlon
- national(s)
- triathlon
- set
- ultramarathon
- decathlon
- outing
- biathlon
- derby
- final
- championship
- gymkhana
- heptathlon
- semifinal
- play-off
- nightcap