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
In the short term, cortisol secretion can be a good thing—a very good things, which is why your adrenals can secrete it in the first place.
—
Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
The July 1 report suggests that while most Americans will see tax savings in the short term, high-income households stand to gain the most.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 5 July 2025
In the short term, analyst say, lower rates likely would save the government money.
—Paul Davidson, USA Today, 4 July 2025
My conversations on what was not too long ago one of the world’s top-performing stock markets, have transitioned from euphoria to cautious optimism in the short term.
—Amala Balakrishner, CNBC, 3 July 2025
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.
Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025
The July 1 report suggests that while most Americans will see tax savings in the short term, high-income households stand to gain the most.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, AZCentral.com, 5 July 2025
In the short term, analyst say, lower rates likely would save the government money.
—Paul Davidson, USA Today, 4 July 2025
My conversations on what was not too long ago one of the world’s top-performing stock markets, have transitioned from euphoria to cautious optimism in the short term.
—Amala Balakrishner, CNBC, 3 July 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 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share