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 by a long shot
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
But getting there felt like a long shot.
—
Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Feb. 2026
The long shots Three months after FIFA selected Kansas City as a host city, Dietrich sent an email to his team with Sporting KC, recapping a meeting they’d had the previous day.
—Sam McDowell February 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles Chargers star Keenan Allen hit a long shot from the red, white and blue line that was worth 4 points for Team Anthony.
—ABC News, 13 Feb. 2026
Full-time playing time with the Orioles is a long shot without trades or injuries.
—Eno Sarris, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2026
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.
Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Feb. 2026
The long shots Three months after FIFA selected Kansas City as a host city, Dietrich sent an email to his team with Sporting KC, recapping a meeting they’d had the previous day.
—Sam McDowell February 13, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles Chargers star Keenan Allen hit a long shot from the red, white and blue line that was worth 4 points for Team Anthony.
—ABC News, 13 Feb. 2026
Full-time playing time with the Orioles is a long shot without trades or injuries.
—Eno Sarris, New York Times, 13 Feb. 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 19 Feb. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
