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:
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
Since Bryce Young will be getting his fifth-year option picked up, selecting a quarterback would be a long shot.
—
Mike Kaye
march 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 Mar. 2026
Miami is still a long shot in Morgantown, but the program deserves props for checking into its second-ever NCAA Tournament.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Galloway tracks down a long shot to right field to bring up the Bobcat bats.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
At the start of February, the thought of TCU men’s basketball reaching the NCAA Tournament felt like a long shot.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for long shot
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Mike Kaye
march 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 Mar. 2026
Miami is still a long shot in Morgantown, but the program deserves props for checking into its second-ever NCAA Tournament.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Galloway tracks down a long shot to right field to bring up the Bobcat bats.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 20 Mar. 2026
At the start of February, the thought of TCU men’s basketball reaching the NCAA Tournament felt like a long shot.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Mar. 2026
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 24 Mar. 2026.
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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