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

First, the sequence pays homage to the nightclub scene in Gilda (1946), in which Rita Hayworth dances in a long shot amid ogling male patrons, tracked by a concentrated spotlight. — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

But wrangling leaders in both countries to take action could be a long shot. — Lauren Feiner, The Verge, 29 Sep. 2026

The goal of keeping Democratic Senate seats and flipping four GOP seats once felt like a long shot. — Ben Binday, Washington Post, 26 Sep. 2026

At the sportsbooks, Schlittler is a long shot to win the American League MVP. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 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