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.

In the short term, things will only get worse, around affordability. —

John Hope Bryant, TIME, 18 Jan. 2025 According to experts, health effects in the short term are certainly possible. —

Maggie O'Neill, Health, 18 Jan. 2025 If inhaled or ingested, benzene can lead to nausea and vomiting in the short term and may cause cancer over time. —

Hiroko Tabuchi, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025 This will keep Californians covered in the short term and make the state more resilient by reducing all of our risk over time. —

Carmen Balber, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2025 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 21 Jan. 2025.

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