long run

noun

|Updated on: 18 Aug 2018

Definition of long run

: a relatively long period of time —usually used in the phrase in the long run

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long-run

play \ˈlȯŋ-ˈrən\ adjective

See long run defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of long run from the Web

In the long run, the cascade of consequences places individuals who have experienced early trauma at risk for academic or occupational failure, substance abuse, and health problems such as heart disease and diabetes.

— dylan gee, Vox, "I study kids who were separated from their parents. The trauma could change their brains forever.," 20 June 2018
These can be memberships to retailers like Amazon Prime and Sam's Club, which end up saving you money in the long run, or e-learning courses that will help bolster someone's resume and lead to better job opportunities.

— banu ibrahim, CNN Underscored, "The ultimate Father's Day guide: The top deals and gifts to shop right now," 13 June 2018
And in the 1960s, jobs put workers on a path toward benefits and economic security in the longer run — more of a rarity today, in a world where unions and pension plans are few and far between.

— Fortune, "Sorry, President Trump, But the Best Economy Was Eisenhower's," 7 June 2018
The statute of limitations had long run out when Parkhurst walked into a police station in 2013 and confessed after two interviews with investigators.

— Washington Post, "Man run down, 50 years after killing girl in hit-and-run," 5 June 2018
That may mean in the long run, less bounty for commercial anglers.

— ted sickinger, OregonLive.com, "Police looking for shooter after one injured in Keizer," 22 Apr. 2018
There are so many training programs out there that talk about mile repeats, tempo runs, long runs.

— Health.com, "How to Harness Your Mental Strength, According to Marathon Record Holder Deena Kastor," 10 Apr. 2018
With a playoff spot locked up, sitting Steven Stamkos for the last few games of the season, not to mention possibly giving Andrei Vasilevskiy a few nights off, could pay off in the long run, 2.

— jeremy fuchs, SI.com, "Power Rankings: Teams On the Bubble Battling to Make the Playoffs," 2 Apr. 2018
After a long run in west Fort Worth, Doc’s Records & Vintage — the city's largest record store — closed its doors, with plans to reopen in a new location in the fall of 2017.

— jeremy hallock, star-telegram, "Doc's Records returns in a funky space at The Foundry that's a perfect fit | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 23 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'long run.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.