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
That is the most highly underpaid by a long shot, right?
—
Dalton Ross, EW.com, 19 Mar. 2025
By a long shot, the most exciting new steak house in New York right now is La Tête d’Or by Daniel, the latest restaurant from the indefatigable French chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud, who for more than three decades has embodied the soigné sophistication of ultra-high-end dining in New York.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2025
Pets are picking Flow over Severance by a long shot!
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 11 Mar. 2025
When the subject of his future beyond this season came up, Marchand gave strong hints that the idea of him return was a long shot.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for long shot
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Dalton Ross, EW.com, 19 Mar. 2025
By a long shot, the most exciting new steak house in New York right now is La Tête d’Or by Daniel, the latest restaurant from the indefatigable French chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud, who for more than three decades has embodied the soigné sophistication of ultra-high-end dining in New York.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2025
Pets are picking Flow over Severance by a long shot!
—Angel Saunders, People.com, 11 Mar. 2025
When the subject of his future beyond this season came up, Marchand gave strong hints that the idea of him return was a long shot.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 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 21 Apr. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share