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Definitions

photo finish

NOUN
very close finish
Synonyms
WEAK
blanket finish close finish dead heat even money neck-and-neck race

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When it comes to picking the best S&P 500 index fund, the results are bound to be a photo finish.

From Barron's • Apr. 1, 2026

So it likely comes down to these two, and the stakes are chillingly high for such a photo finish.

From Slate • Mar. 23, 2026

The nine-year-old, ridden by jockey Charlie Deutsch, crossed the line alongside Cian Collins' horse, resulting in the first photo finish of the Festival.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

It was a historic photo finish at the L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2026

Incredibly, Woolf’s timing was so good that he rode for more than a decade before he was beaten in a photo finish of a stakes race.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.