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
Roki Sasaki, who closed out the series, was a long shot to be on the postseason roster just a month ago.
—
Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
His name will remain, as will fellow long shot candidate Jim Walden, who also suspended his campaign and last week endorsed Cuomo.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2025
Adams’ campaign was a long shot; the sitting mayor has spent much of his tenure since he was sworn in to run New York City in 2022 embroiled in controversy, most notably over his federal criminal indictment on bribery and conspiracy charges.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 28 Sep. 2025
Sanders might be a long shot to become the next head coach of the Tigers.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for long shot
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Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
His name will remain, as will fellow long shot candidate Jim Walden, who also suspended his campaign and last week endorsed Cuomo.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2025
Adams’ campaign was a long shot; the sitting mayor has spent much of his tenure since he was sworn in to run New York City in 2022 embroiled in controversy, most notably over his federal criminal indictment on bribery and conspiracy charges.
—Chantelle Lee, Time, 28 Sep. 2025
Sanders might be a long shot to become the next head coach of the Tigers.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 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 3 Oct. 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
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