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
Acute and Chronic Damage In the short term, this cascade means tighter and more restricted airways, more mucus, and overall reduced lung function.
—
Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Tower pointed to tailwinds for McDonald’s in the short term and over the long run.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
How childhood food insecurity fuels eating disorder risk Lacking consistent access to food harms children’s physical health and well-being in the short term and puts them at higher risk for significant mental health problems in the future.
—Oona Hanson, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
Throw in running back Aaron Jones’s hamstring injury and the looming trip overseas, and the extent of the storm that must be weathered in the short term cannot be overstated.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the short term
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Bill Frist, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Tower pointed to tailwinds for McDonald’s in the short term and over the long run.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2025
How childhood food insecurity fuels eating disorder risk Lacking consistent access to food harms children’s physical health and well-being in the short term and puts them at higher risk for significant mental health problems in the future.
—Oona Hanson, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
Throw in running back Aaron Jones’s hamstring injury and the looming trip overseas, and the extent of the storm that must be weathered in the short term cannot be overstated.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
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 19 Sep. 2025.
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