the long term
noun
: a long period of time after the beginning of something
She is investing for the long term.
I think it's the better choice over the long term.
an investment that should do well in the long term
These changes may improve profits now, but they are going to cost us money in the long term.
Examples of the long term in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Even more of them worry about his administration’s positioning on Greenland, and that even talking about seizing the country might hurt NATO in the long term.
—
Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 8 Jan. 2026
But no permanent funding source was identified to keep this project running over the long term.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
The Mediterranean diet may be easier for people to follow in the long term.
—Brianna Tobritzhofer, Health, 8 Jan. 2026
Still, proteins are indirectly involved in many aspects of the body’s energy levels in the long term.
—Laura Dorwart, Verywell Health, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the long term
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Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 8 Jan. 2026
But no permanent funding source was identified to keep this project running over the long term.
—Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
The Mediterranean diet may be easier for people to follow in the long term.
—Brianna Tobritzhofer, Health, 8 Jan. 2026
Still, proteins are indirectly involved in many aspects of the body’s energy levels in the long term.
—Laura Dorwart, Verywell Health, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the long term
Cite this Entry
“The long term.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20long%20term. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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