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
That’s why oil demand is inelastic in the short term, noted Alan Gelder, head of refining, chemicals and oil markets research at Wood Mackenzie.
—
David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
The Tigers might need to do some deft maneuvering to improve their offense, both in the short term and long term.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 3 June 2026
Older forms of broadband are still poised to do well in the short term given the relatively higher prices of services like SpaceX’s Starlink, Oppenheimer said.
—Tobias Burns, CNBC, 3 June 2026
In the short term, especially under this administration, these are the things that feel actionable.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for the short term
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.
David Goldman, CNN Money, 3 June 2026
The Tigers might need to do some deft maneuvering to improve their offense, both in the short term and long term.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 3 June 2026
Older forms of broadband are still poised to do well in the short term given the relatively higher prices of services like SpaceX’s Starlink, Oppenheimer said.
—Tobias Burns, CNBC, 3 June 2026
In the short term, especially under this administration, these are the things that feel actionable.
—Clio Chang, Curbed, 2 June 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 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
