the short term
noun
: a short period of time at the beginning of something
It will meet our needs, at least for the short term.
His plan has advantages over the short term.
—usually used in the phrase in the short termIt won't make any difference in the short term.
These changes may improve profits in the short term, but they are going to cost us money in the long term.
Examples of the short term in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Republican war on Black districts could pull them back, at least in the short term.
—
S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 13 May 2026
While mechanical removal methods exist, complete eradication is unlikely in the short term due to high costs and limited capacity, according to Cantillo.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
What this means, in the short term, is that Silvia and Guojun’s twenty-plus kids will remain in foster care until they are placed into guardianships or adopted, probably by their foster families.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
Wagler is particularly intriguing as a big guard who could potentially fit next to Garland in the short term as a backup and in the long term as a shooting guard.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for the short term
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S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 13 May 2026
While mechanical removal methods exist, complete eradication is unlikely in the short term due to high costs and limited capacity, according to Cantillo.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
What this means, in the short term, is that Silvia and Guojun’s twenty-plus kids will remain in foster care until they are placed into guardianships or adopted, probably by their foster families.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
Wagler is particularly intriguing as a big guard who could potentially fit next to Garland in the short term as a backup and in the long term as a shooting guard.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 11 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for the short term
Cite this Entry
“The short term.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20short%20term. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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