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
There are a few other confusing playoff paths for Miami, but all remain a long shot.
—
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 10 Dec. 2025
Here, as in The Passenger, the author’s cinematic structure displays carefully calibrated shifts of perspective, as close-ups revealing the inner thoughts of the protagonists give way to long shots that vividly evoke the vibrant and often violent city that was Berlin.
—Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025
The Pirates remain a long shot to sign Schwarber, whose most likely landing spot remains his previous team, the Philadelphia Phillies.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 8 Dec. 2025
Pavia entered the season as a major long shot to win the Heisman — listed at +2000 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for long shot
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Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 10 Dec. 2025
Here, as in The Passenger, the author’s cinematic structure displays carefully calibrated shifts of perspective, as close-ups revealing the inner thoughts of the protagonists give way to long shots that vividly evoke the vibrant and often violent city that was Berlin.
—Literary Hub, 9 Dec. 2025
The Pirates remain a long shot to sign Schwarber, whose most likely landing spot remains his previous team, the Philadelphia Phillies.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 8 Dec. 2025
Pavia entered the season as a major long shot to win the Heisman — listed at +2000 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
—Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Dec. 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 15 Dec. 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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