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
Offensive linemen Jalen McKenzie and Braeden Daniels also are on the team but long shots to make the final roster.
—
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Aug. 2025
And long shot or not, fans and observers remain glued across the hall, where Arizona slugger Eugenio Suárez seems OK after taking a Will Vest fastball off the hand Monday night.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 30 July 2025
Durant is a long shot for the 53-man roster, but had moments during an early half-line drill as a run-blocker.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 30 July 2025
The episode is beautifully directed by Ramy Youssef, with long shots of Marcus ambling through the dark streets of Denmark at night and diving into all manner of new and interesting flavors.
—Marah Eakin, Vulture, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for long shot
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Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Aug. 2025
And long shot or not, fans and observers remain glued across the hall, where Arizona slugger Eugenio Suárez seems OK after taking a Will Vest fastball off the hand Monday night.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 30 July 2025
Durant is a long shot for the 53-man roster, but had moments during an early half-line drill as a run-blocker.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 30 July 2025
The episode is beautifully directed by Ramy Youssef, with long shots of Marcus ambling through the dark streets of Denmark at night and diving into all manner of new and interesting flavors.
—Marah Eakin, Vulture, 27 June 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 Aug. 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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