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
Phrases
by a long shot
: by a great deal

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Cincinnati Bengals Much like the Chiefs, this is likely a long shot due to the history of the team. Matt Levine, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025 The 13-1 long shot runs 1 3/16 miles in 1:55.98 and pays $28.80 to win. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025 Previously, Club for Growth launched an ad encouraging Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) to back the Trump tax cuts, though that may be a long shot given his concerns over possible cuts to entitlement programs. Haisten Willis, The Washington Examiner, 14 May 2025 For three seasons, outside of the roster long shots, only a handful of people who have been a part of the Dolphins organization has feared for their job. Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 12 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for long shot

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of long shot was in 1796

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Long shot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/long%20shot. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

long shot

noun
1
: a great risk that promises a great reward if successful
2
: an entry (as in a horse race) given little chance of winning

More from Merriam-Webster on long shot

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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