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
Yes, but: Although MA could provide huge savings for a reconciliation bill, its inclusion is still a long shot.
—
Peter Sullivan, Axios, 20 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
The filing is a long shot, however, according to legal experts.
—Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 6 Mar. 2025
And in the Pac-12 (4-seed Oregon) and ACC (10-seed NC State) Tournaments, a pair of true long shots stunned everyone to capture automatic bids to the Big Dance.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for long shot
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Peter Sullivan, Axios, 20 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
The filing is a long shot, however, according to legal experts.
—Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 6 Mar. 2025
And in the Pac-12 (4-seed Oregon) and ACC (10-seed NC State) Tournaments, a pair of true long shots stunned everyone to capture automatic bids to the Big Dance.
—William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 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 31 Mar. 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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