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 market drops considerably after the leading contenders, and the long shots include the United States, which is currently the 19th favorite to win it all at +8000 after its round-of-16 exit on home soil in 2026. — Dean Jones, New York Times, 20 July 2026

Both Northern California teams are 41-55 and considered long shots to salvage their seasons and reach the playoffs. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 15 July 2026

See IndieWire’s full list of 2026 Emmy predictions, complete with frontrunners, contenders, and long shots on our website. — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 15 July 2026

Earning a spot in the Warriors’ regular season rotation is a long shot, but Olbrich is a prime candidate to join the Santa Cruz G League team and develop under the tutelage of that arm of the Golden State organization. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 14 July 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