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
see also:
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
On a long shot, go find a body and box out.
—
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
David Aldridge writes about a group of ex-ABA players hoping for a financial long shot from the NBA, decades later.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Even with the death of Khamenei, regime change is a long shot in Iran, said Downes, the institute director at George Washington University.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
The bill is a long shot in the Senate but serves as another reminder of Republican efforts to change election rules heading into November.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for long shot
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Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 Mar. 2026
David Aldridge writes about a group of ex-ABA players hoping for a financial long shot from the NBA, decades later.
—Chris Branch, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Even with the death of Khamenei, regime change is a long shot in Iran, said Downes, the institute director at George Washington University.
—Michael Collins, USA Today, 4 Mar. 2026
The bill is a long shot in the Senate but serves as another reminder of Republican efforts to change election rules heading into November.
—ABC News, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for long shot
Cite this Entry
“Long shot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/long%20shot. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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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