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 former Cincinnati quarterback is appealing his suspension for gambling on college football, but should be considered a long shot to play. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 June 2026

Apple could get ahead of the crowd here with a feature that takes blood pressure readings without calibration—though, admittedly, this is a long shot. —Kimberly Gedeon, PC Magazine, 8 June 2026

Those weren’t just long shots, more like Megan Grant moonshots. —Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026

This helped inspire the scene being filmed in one long shot, without any cuts. —Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 8 June 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