the short run
noun
: a short period of time at the beginning of something
One plan had advantages over the short run.
—usually used in the phrase in the short runIt won't make any difference in the short run.
These changes may improve profits in the short run, but they are going to cost us money in the long run.
Examples of the short run in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Things don’t get a lot easier, certainly not in the short run, before the All-Star Break, with the Pistons and the Celtics and the 76ers around what is supposed to be a soft place to land against the Pacers.
—
Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
In the short run, the power struggle could involve armed conflict.
—Pedro A. Rojas Arroyo, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
Pulling back may feel prudent in the short run, but history suggests that underinvestment during transitions is what prolongs instability rather than reducing it.
—Chris Bradley, Fortune, 21 Jan. 2026
The impact of Maduro's overthrow on oil prices is ambiguous in the short run, said Daan Struyven, head of oil research at Goldman Sachs.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the short run
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Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
In the short run, the power struggle could involve armed conflict.
—Pedro A. Rojas Arroyo, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
Pulling back may feel prudent in the short run, but history suggests that underinvestment during transitions is what prolongs instability rather than reducing it.
—Chris Bradley, Fortune, 21 Jan. 2026
The impact of Maduro's overthrow on oil prices is ambiguous in the short run, said Daan Struyven, head of oil research at Goldman Sachs.
—Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 4 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the short run
Cite this Entry
“The short run.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20short%20run. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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