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
At one point, Justin hit a long shot from near the foul line while seated in a chair.
—
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2025
Cousins is a long shot for anyone, especially in Minnesota.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
But after a loss with too many mistakes to overcome at Notre Dame Stadium, USC is looking like a long shot, at best, and is in a much different position than a Notre Dame team with two losses of its own.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The defense drops again After touting the League’s best defense (by a long shot) two years ago, Minnesota slipped to sixth in defensive efficiency last season.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for long shot
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Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2025
Cousins is a long shot for anyone, especially in Minnesota.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
But after a loss with too many mistakes to overcome at Notre Dame Stadium, USC is looking like a long shot, at best, and is in a much different position than a Notre Dame team with two losses of its own.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The defense drops again After touting the League’s best defense (by a long shot) two years ago, Minnesota slipped to sixth in defensive efficiency last season.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 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 24 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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