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
There may even be an upside for Asia in the long term.
—
Angelica Ang, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Developing these frameworks is crucial to reaping value from AI in the long term.
—NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
Over the long term, neither consistently leads the other — that relationship is well understood.
—Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
Ethnography is a method of research, usually done in the long term, that combines interviews and participant observation.
—Deana L. Weibel, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the long 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.
Angelica Ang, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Developing these frameworks is crucial to reaping value from AI in the long term.
—NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
Over the long term, neither consistently leads the other — that relationship is well understood.
—Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 1 Apr. 2026
Ethnography is a method of research, usually done in the long term, that combines interviews and participant observation.
—Deana L. Weibel, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 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 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
