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
Bill Ruger, the arms manufacturer, made a long shot at a kudu in northern Kenya on a mountain that was bare enough for sheep.
—
Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 24 Sep. 2025
To bring all this to life, Lee Sang-il relies heavily on both tight closeups and widescreen long shots that work in tandem to capture the physicality of the many performances.
—Ryan Swen, Variety, 23 Sep. 2025
From the outset, even Bronshteyn’s attorneys acknowledge the case was a long shot.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Both were considered long shots to return for the game and may very well still be long shots to take the field in Week 4 as well.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for long shot
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.
Jack O'Connor, Outdoor Life, 24 Sep. 2025
To bring all this to life, Lee Sang-il relies heavily on both tight closeups and widescreen long shots that work in tandem to capture the physicality of the many performances.
—Ryan Swen, Variety, 23 Sep. 2025
From the outset, even Bronshteyn’s attorneys acknowledge the case was a long shot.
—William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Both were considered long shots to return for the game and may very well still be long shots to take the field in Week 4 as well.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
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 30 Sep. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share