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
As a result, the White Sox could suddenly be willing to spend as much as $450 million on a blockbuster contract signing, though stealing Tucker from the Cubs is still probably a long shot.
—
Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Most rational people don’t bet on long shots, especially given how ugly politics has become.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Given the recent history of gold smuggling from South America to South Florida, their quest to get the case dismissed will be a long shot.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2025
The signing paid dividends, as Smith showed enough for Kansas City to keep him around as a developmental long shot.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for long shot
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Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Most rational people don’t bet on long shots, especially given how ugly politics has become.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Sep. 2025
Given the recent history of gold smuggling from South America to South Florida, their quest to get the case dismissed will be a long shot.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2025
The signing paid dividends, as Smith showed enough for Kansas City to keep him around as a developmental long shot.
—Pete Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 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 10 Sep. 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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