long shot
noun
1
: a venture involving great risk but promising a great reward if successful
also
: a venture unlikely to succeed
2
: an entry (as in a horse race) given little chance of winning
3
: a bet in which the chances of winning are slight but the possible winnings great
Examples of long shot in a Sentence
I hope to double my profits, but I know that's a long shot.
The horse was a long shot, but we bet on him anyway.
She always bets on long shots at the racetrack.
Recent Examples on the Web
That may give them a shot — and piling up that many wins is a long shot — of being among the four teams playing four weeks from now at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
—
Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2024
However, the referendum becomes a little more of a long shot with each passing day.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Some of the obvious candidates, including Medvedev and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, seem to be long shots.
—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. by a long shot, accounting for about 1 in 5 cancer deaths every year, according to the American Cancer Society.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 30 Mar. 2024
He is being challenged by long shot candidates Dean Phillips, a representative from Minnesota, and author Marianne Williamson.
—Abc News, ABC News, 3 Feb. 2024
But Reid not continuing on with the best QB in football in his prime seems a long shot.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2024
Democrats believe the Florida decisions will turn out voters and perhaps even flip the state — a long shot in a state where Mr. Biden’s opponent is a registered voter.
—Katie Rogers, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Initially a long shot to make the roster, Stiggers instead became a starter after signing 15 months ago.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024
Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2024
However, the referendum becomes a little more of a long shot with each passing day.
—Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024
Some of the obvious candidates, including Medvedev and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, seem to be long shots.
—Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. by a long shot, accounting for about 1 in 5 cancer deaths every year, according to the American Cancer Society.
—Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 30 Mar. 2024
He is being challenged by long shot candidates Dean Phillips, a representative from Minnesota, and author Marianne Williamson.
—Abc News, ABC News, 3 Feb. 2024
But Reid not continuing on with the best QB in football in his prime seems a long shot.
—Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 1 Feb. 2024
Democrats believe the Florida decisions will turn out voters and perhaps even flip the state — a long shot in a state where Mr. Biden’s opponent is a registered voter.
—Katie Rogers, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Initially a long shot to make the roster, Stiggers instead became a starter after signing 15 months ago.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'long shot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near long shot
Cite this Entry
“Long shot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/long%20shot. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
long shot
noun1
: a great risk that promises a great reward if successful
2
: an entry (as in a horse race) given little chance of winning
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