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 term

It 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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

While the tactic didn’t work in the short term, eventually the Klan won the larger battle after Presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Rutherford B. Hayes tried to compromise. —

Brittany Friedman / Made By History, TIME, 6 Jan. 2025 In the short term, if rainfall and snowpack fall short, the river's already fragile state could worsen. —

Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024 Especially given the stakes as the club moves forward in the short term without Hughes. —

Thomas Drance, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024 Salter or Lewis could sure use a Martin of their own, at least in the short term. —

Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 29 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for the short term

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“The short term.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20short%20term. Accessed 9 Jan. 2025.

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