by a whisker
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.
Muller beat more experienced players to the prize in 2010 - by a whisker.
From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026
Before that, he was third in the Kentucky Derby by a whisker while being on the receiving end of some bumping down the stretch by Sierra Leone.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 1, 2025
The U.S. defense was exposed in transition, leaving captain Alex Roldan free on the right side for an 18-yard bid that missed the far corner by a whisker.
From Washington Post • Jan. 27, 2022
They tried it last year and it failed by a whisker, so now they're setting things up to pull it off in 2024.
From Salon • Oct. 20, 2021
Sirius IV got in first by a whisker, it seems, but Aldebaran II was so close a second that it was a photo finish, and all the channels have been jammed ever since.
From The Vortex Blaster by Smith, E. E. (Edward Elmer)
