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
In January the American job market just finished up its four-year stint as the strongest in American history, by a long shot.
—
Eli Amdur, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Between the courts taking forever, the Potawatomi taking advantage and Waukegan taking dunce lessons, the Full House development was starting to look like a long shot.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
Oscars chaos: The last two tumultuous weeks have upended the awards race, leaving the favorite hobbled and long shots looking like bull’s eyes.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025
The bill is a long shot given that Republicans control the House, albeit by only a slim three-vote margin.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for long shot
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Eli Amdur, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
Between the courts taking forever, the Potawatomi taking advantage and Waukegan taking dunce lessons, the Full House development was starting to look like a long shot.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2025
Oscars chaos: The last two tumultuous weeks have upended the awards race, leaving the favorite hobbled and long shots looking like bull’s eyes.
—Natasha Frost, New York Times, 13 Feb. 2025
The bill is a long shot given that Republicans control the House, albeit by only a slim three-vote margin.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 6 Feb. 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 6 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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