long shot

noun

ˈlȯŋ-ˌshät 

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

The Heat could try to lure impending free agent LeBron James with its full midlevel exception, but a James return is considered a long shot. —Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 23 June 2026

At stake for Scheffler is a chance — a long shot at that — to complete the career Grand Slam, on Father’s Day, which happens to be his 30th birthday. —Doug Ferguson, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026

At stake for Scheffler is a chance — a long shot at that — to get the final leg of the career Grand Slam — on Father’s Day, which also happens to be his 30th birthday. —Doug Ferguson, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2026

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia no longer seems a long shot. —Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 20 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for long shot

• allot
• barat
• begot
• besought
• bethought
• bloodshot
• boycott
• buckshot
• crackpot
• croat
• culottes
• dashpot

Kids Definition

long shot

noun

ˈlȯŋ-ˌshät 

1

: a great risk that promises a great reward if successful

2

: an entry (as in a horse race) given little chance of winning